Newport (Salop) RUFC

Sat 23 Oct 2021

Newport (Salop)

38 - 20

(HT 19-13)

Bridgnorth

Newport (Salop)

Bridgnorth

Midlands Premier Division

Perry stars as Newport reclaim local “Bragging Rights”

Newport 38pts v Bridgnorth 20pts

Four tries from long serving centre Chris Perry proved to be the highlight in what was otherwise a very strong team performance against their local rivals. Having not beaten Newport for 30 years previously, Bridgnorth had won the last five encounters between the two clubs in modern times so the omens were not good going into the game, one that Newport just couldn’t afford to lose after their recent setbacks had seen them drop down the league placings to 6th.

These fixtures are always tasty enough but there was added spice to the game with both teams agreeing to play this as a double-header North Mids Cup quarter final with Malvern already through waiting to host the winners in the Semi’s.

Benny Elliot filled in on the wing for Sam Evans who was working and Chris Taylor replaced Rhys Morgan at No8 who was forced out through injury whilst Dave Manning started at prop with player-coach Craig Wilson on the bench.

Early signs weren’t looking good for the home side when Bridgnorth destroyed their first scrum and shunted them backwards at a rapid rate of knots before young winger Alex Gow made two bullocking runs into the Bridgnorth twenty-two only to have the ball cleverly ripped from his possession by Bridgnorth defenders on both occasions. Newport were unable to take advantage of a couple of penalties into the corner when the ball was lost at the first line out and a penalty conceded at the second.

Nineteen minutes in Bridgnorth were able to apply some territorial pressure of their own forcing a lineout close to the Newport line but the ball was turned over and travelled through many sets of hands before Perry crossed for his first to finish off a wonderful flowing move, Connor Adams converting for a 7- 0 score-line. Bridgnorth were soon back in the home twenty-two and it was full back Jake Leonard who pulled off a crunching try saving tackle and produced a valuable turnover in the process allowing them to clear their lines. Newport then strayed offside in midfield allowing Will Biddell to slot over a regulation penalty. 7 – 3 after twenty-six minutes.

Bridgnorth then took the lead after a defensive clearance was charged down, Connor Nicholls being the beneficiary, regathering and touching down for the try. Biddell couldn’t convert but he was back on the scoresheet when he took advantage of a defensive mix up and crossed for their second try in four minutes to give the visitors a 7 – 13 lead, the conversion attempt again drifting wide.

After thirty-six minutes Newport put a penalty into the Bridgnorth twenty-two where they were awarded a repeat penalty for side entry. Leonard put it to within five metres of the visitors line and Oli Buckley was driven over to score, Adams converting to restore their lead at 14 – 13. It was a pulsating encounter that was just about to get better as George Castledine, Ricky Bailey and Leonard all combined to put Perry through on a great angle, his pace outstripping the cover defence for a further Newport try just before the break, Adams’s conversion attempt striking the left upright. Referee George Jones, who had an excellent afternoon with the whistle, brought the half to a close with the scoreboard reading Newport 19, Bridgnorth 13 and all still to play for.

Whilst Newport had played up the slope in the first half the locals were unsure whether a six point margin would be enough as unusually the wind was blowing in a northerly direction and would be in Bridgnorth’s favour for the second half.

Fifteen minutes into the second period and we were no nearer to finding out as defences continued to dominate. Newport then rolled the dice with Wilson replacing Manning, Jake Goulson replacing Taylor and Sam Brown replacing Elliot requiring a reshuffle in the backs. They began to dominate territorially and exert pressure on the Bridgnorth line, the visitors desperation resulting in a yellow card that reduced them to fourteen. The numerical advantage soon told with Perry finishing off another good move to complete his hat-trick, Adams converting to give Newport some breathing space at 26 – 13 after sixty-two minutes.

They were soon back on the attack and another good Gow, Adams, Castledine and Bailey combination saw Perry miraculously pluck the ball from his bootlaces to get his fourth try of the day, Adams again with the conversion and a score of 33 – 13 after sixty-six minutes.

Restored to full numbers, Bridgnorth forced a knock on under the Newport posts after no-one had taken the initiative to clear their lines. Newport penalised at the scrum, quick tap and amongst a pile of bodies Bridgnorth were awarded the try, scorer unknown, simple conversion, now 33 -20 with six minutes remaining.

This, of course, opened up the possibility of maybe two bonus points for the visitors if they could manufacture another converted try but it was Newport who re-asserted their control on the game, camped in their opponents half a number of opportunities were spurned through over ambitious long passes that were mostly put behind the support runner. Nevertheless, injuries were mounting for the visitors and another yellow card reduced their numbers once more. Fittingly it was captain Tom Cowell, who led the side superbly all afternoon, who found a mis-match out wide and barrelled over for the sixth try, unconverted, but putting the game very firmly to bed with a final score of 38 – 20.

Clearly it will be Perry and his fellow backs who take the plaudits for producing a collection of excellent tries but as with all games of rugby it is generally the forwards who set the platform for such exploits and every one of them produced a performance to be proud of to halt the miserable run against their Shropshire rivals.

Team: 15 Leonard, 14 Elliot, 13 Perry, 12 Bailey, 11 Gow, 10 Castledine, 9 Adams,  8 Taylor, 7 Mahoney, 6 Price, 5 Hubbart, 4 Buckley, 3 Manning, 2 Cowell, 1 Wells

Bench: 16 Wilson, 17 Goulson, 18 Brown

Written by: Chris Wilde