Sat 20 Nov 2021
Burton-upon-Trent 29pts v Newport 38pts
Newport made their first visit to the magnificent Battlestead Croft, the new home of Burton rugby, and came away with a vital bonus point victory that lifts them to second in the table, just one point behind leaders Sheffield. It was another entertaining game and whilst Newport were only behind for a short period early in the game whenever they extended their lead Burton managed to peg them back to within touching distance.
The visitors made some minor adjustments from the team that floored Bromsgrove last time out. Alex Gow returned to the wing with Sam Evans taking his turn on the bench whilst skipper Tom Cowell and Jack Price were rested as they were carrying minor injuries, or at least that was the plan as Cowell was forced into action by the late withdrawal of tight head Dave Manning. Joe Nixon had recovered from injury and joined Jake Goulson on the bench.
When the Burton kick off found touch inside the visitors twenty-two it allowed them to exert some serious pressure on the Newport line but the defence was solid. It was eight minutes before Newport could work their way into Burton territory when Oli Buckley hit a great line in centre field but the home defence snuffed out that threat before Jake Leonard put a penalty to within five metres, some tight phases sucking in defenders before Jordan Grass, who no doubt enjoyed his full eighty minutes, burst through and popped inside for Buckley to gain just reward for his earlier break with the first try by the posts, Leonard converting to make it 0 – 7 after eleven minutes. Burton were soon level when Leonard, normally so robust in defence, fell off a tackle and Alex Nesbitt, whose hard, direct running troubled Newport all afternoon, ran in for a try by the posts that full back Will Simpson converted, adding a penalty shortly afterwards when Newport were caught offside to give Burton the lead for the only time in the match,10 – 7 after twenty-six minutes.
George Castledine, who had his best game since joining the club, then fielded a high kick and broke through taking play to the Burton twenty-two, the ball being transferred between Ricky Bailey and Leonard eventually giving Gow the chance to dot down, again converted for 10 – 14 after twenty-nine minutes. Castledine then got on the scoresheet himself wriggling over in the corner after Leonard’s penalty to eight metres out followed by some good tight controlled phases had created just enough space, Leonard’s excellent touchline conversion making it 10 – 21.
Burton again hit back, Simpson ghosting through to score and convert his own try. Connor Adams then put a great grubber through to the corner, the ball catching a Burton defender on the way to give Newport the throw. Their lineout malfunctioned for most of the match but this one was secured and again Jack Wells, Matt Hubbart and Harry Mahoney did the hard yards before Bailey found space in the Burton line to cross and make it 17 – 26 at the interval.
Newport made a good start to the second period when first Mahoney claimed the restart and galloped through, then Sam Brown made a similar break, both efforts taking them into the Burton twenty-two but the visitors were unable to take advantage. Newport then stole the ball from a home attack on half way and a great combination down the left wing between Gow and Leonard saw the latter race away for a fifth try, converted to make it 17 – 33 after forty-seven minutes. Newport just couldn’t shake Burton off and when Nesbitt ghosted through for his second try of the day, again converted, they had reduced the arrears to 24 – 33. Newport probably thought they had put the game to bed when Adams stretched over to score following another period of good tight phases to make it 24 – 38 but Burton had other ideas. Nixon, Goulson and Evans were all introduced from the bench but Newport were now getting on the wrong side of referee Mr Yates and a series of penalties against them gave Burton the opportunity to build pressure. One such penalty was kicked to within five metres resulting in a regulation catch and drive try for James Davies to make it 29 – 38 with seven minutes remaining.
It was an nervy last few minutes for the visitors as Burton continued to press for another score which would secure a second bonus point and maybe, just maybe, a sniff of victory but Newport’s defence held firm, typified by a crunching tackle by Chris Perry, and when Hubbart stole a Burton throw in the ball was launched into the stand to bring an end to proceedings at 29 – 38.
Newport were unable to reproduce the intensity or accuracy of execution so admirably displayed against Bromsgrove but it was an important victory nevertheless. With other top half teams vied against each other over the coming weeks Newport have a clear opportunity to take over at the top as they now play a series of games against bottom half sides in the run up to Christmas. That run begins with the visit of Doncaster Phoenix next Saturday, 2.15pm kick off, when nothing less than victory will suffice.
Team: 15 Castledine, 14 Bailey, 13 Perry, 12 Leonard, 11 Gow, 10 Adams, 9 Brown, 8 Taylor, 7 Mahoney, 6 Barnard, 5 Hubbart, 4 Buckley, 3 Wells, 2 Cowell, 1 Grass
Bench: 16 Nixon, 17 Goulson, 18 Evans
Written by: Chris Wilde
Newport made their first visit to the magnificent Battlestead Croft, the new home of Burton rugby, and came away with a vital bonus point victory that lifts them to second in the table, just one point behind leaders Sheffield. It was another entertaining game and whilst Newport were only behind for a short period early in the game whenever they extended their lead Burton managed to peg them back to within touching distance.
The visitors made some minor adjustments from the team that floored Bromsgrove last time out. Alex Gow returned to the wing with Sam Evans taking his turn on the bench whilst skipper Tom Cowell and Jack Price were rested as they were carrying minor injuries, or at least that was the plan as Cowell was forced into action by the late withdrawal of tight head Dave Manning. Joe Nixon had recovered from injury and joined Jake Goulson on the bench.
When the Burton kick off found touch inside the visitors twenty-two it allowed them to exert some serious pressure on the Newport line but the defence was solid. It was eight minutes before Newport could work their way into Burton territory when Oli Buckley hit a great line in centre field but the home defence snuffed out that threat before Jake Leonard put a penalty to within five metres, some tight phases sucking in defenders before Jordan Grass, who no doubt enjoyed his full eighty minutes, burst through and popped inside for Buckley to gain just reward for his earlier break with the first try by the posts, Leonard converting to make it 0 – 7 after eleven minutes. Burton were soon level when Leonard, normally so robust in defence, fell off a tackle and Alex Nesbitt, whose hard, direct running troubled Newport all afternoon, ran in for a try by the posts that full back Will Simpson converted, adding a penalty shortly afterwards when Newport were caught offside to give Burton the lead for the only time in the match,10 – 7 after twenty-six minutes.
George Castledine, who had his best game since joining the club, then fielded a high kick and broke through taking play to the Burton twenty-two, the ball being transferred between Ricky Bailey and Leonard eventually giving Gow the chance to dot down, again converted for 10 – 14 after twenty-nine minutes. Castledine then got on the scoresheet himself wriggling over in the corner after Leonard’s penalty to eight metres out followed by some good tight controlled phases had created just enough space, Leonard’s excellent touchline conversion making it 10 – 21.
Burton again hit back, Simpson ghosting through to score and convert his own try. Connor Adams then put a great grubber through to the corner, the ball catching a Burton defender on the way to give Newport the throw. Their lineout malfunctioned for most of the match but this one was secured and again Jack Wells, Matt Hubbart and Harry Mahoney did the hard yards before Bailey found space in the Burton line to cross and make it 17 – 26 at the interval.
Newport made a good start to the second period when first Mahoney claimed the restart and galloped through, then Sam Brown made a similar break, both efforts taking them into the Burton twenty-two but the visitors were unable to take advantage. Newport then stole the ball from a home attack on half way and a great combination down the left wing between Gow and Leonard saw the latter race away for a fifth try, converted to make it 17 – 33 after forty-seven minutes. Newport just couldn’t shake Burton off and when Nesbitt ghosted through for his second try of the day, again converted, they had reduced the arrears to 24 – 33. Newport probably thought they had put the game to bed when Adams stretched over to score following another period of good tight phases to make it 24 – 38 but Burton had other ideas. Nixon, Goulson and Evans were all introduced from the bench but Newport were now getting on the wrong side of referee Mr Yates and a series of penalties against them gave Burton the opportunity to build pressure. One such penalty was kicked to within five metres resulting in a regulation catch and drive try for James Davies to make it 29 – 38 with seven minutes remaining.
It was an nervy last few minutes for the visitors as Burton continued to press for another score which would secure a second bonus point and maybe, just maybe, a sniff of victory but Newport’s defence held firm, typified by a crunching tackle by Chris Perry, and when Hubbart stole a Burton throw in the ball was launched into the stand to bring an end to proceedings at 29 – 38.
Newport were unable to reproduce the intensity or accuracy of execution so admirably displayed against Bromsgrove but it was an important victory nevertheless. With other top half teams vied against each other over the coming weeks Newport have a clear opportunity to take over at the top as they now play a series of games against bottom half sides in the run up to Christmas. That run begins with the visit of Doncaster Phoenix next Saturday, 2.15pm kick off, when nothing less than victory will suffice.
Team: 15 Castledine, 14 Bailey, 13 Perry, 12 Leonard, 11 Gow, 10 Adams, 9 Brown, 8 Taylor, 7 Mahoney, 6 Barnard, 5 Hubbart, 4 Buckley, 3 Wells, 2 Cowell, 1 Grass
Bench: 16 Nixon, 17 Goulson, 18 Evans
Written by: Chris Wilde
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