Sat 11 Sep 2021
After a slow start against Nuneaton last week that nearly cost dear, Port was looking to get out of the blocks quickly on Saturday against newly promoted Oundle. They certainly achieved this with a strong set piece and flowing back moves setting a high tempo from the start.
Port opened the scoring after three minutes with Chris Perry going over from a short pass by Leonard on the opposition twenty-two. Leonard added to the scoring after eight minutes using his support well to throw two dummies and go in under the posts. The forwards added to the scoring after fifteen minutes when concerted drives from a five-metre line out saw Harry Mahoney dot down. Oundle responded after nineteen minutes when their forwards built the phases from a lineout on the Port twenty-two eventually forcing themselves over the line. On twenty-one minutes good backs move saw Castledine feeding Gow, who broke the line only to be tackled five meters out. Taylor running a great supporting line was able to take a pass and touchdown. Harry Mahoney continued his scoring run after thirty minutes. A huge push from the scrum on Oundle’s put-in had them going backward, Price pressured the scrum half and charged down his kick which Mahoney gathered to touchdown under the posts. On forty minutes a planned move from a Newport scrum on the Oundle twenty-two saw Perry receive the ball and again break through the defensive line to score under the posts. A satisfying first half saw Port go in 42 to 7 to the good.
All credit to Oundle who came out in the second half determined to take the fight to Newport. Port rang the changes with Wilson on for Nixon and Elliot for Adams at halftime and Morgan for Price after five minutes.
Oundle opened the scoring in the second half after fifty six minutes when they went through the phases from a five-metre line outscoring from close range. On sixty one minutes good interplay from inside the Newport half saw Castledine pass to Evans who beat his man before passing inside to Gow who beat the last man to score out wide. On sixty five minutes a fine individual effort from Bailey who, from inside his own half-used fine foot work and strength to get him through the defensive line and his pace to score under the posts. In a late flurry Oundle scored tries on 70 and 80 following good work from their forwards. Port was edged 19 to 12 in the second half leaving an overall margin of victory of 54 to 26.
Director of Rugby Bob Adams commented “Our intensity and execution in the first half was near the levels we are aspiring to play at for 80 mins week in week out. Newport played at their pace and dictated the ruck with speed and accuracy. We were dominant at set piece and had a good platform to unleash our backs, from numbers 9 to 15 they looked sharp. The second half changes were made and as a result I felt we lost the impetus and heartbeat from our ruck area which took away time and space for us on the ball, our decision making then on occasions became one dimensional, our penalty count rose in the second half which was concerning but overall a positive result with some good rugby played. We will look at our work-ons before the visit of Paviors and hopefully see a performance for the 80 minutes.
Newport’s next home game is on Saturday September 18 th against Paviors, Kick Off 3-00pm.
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