Newport (Salop) RUFC

Sat 3 Sep 2022

Newport (Salop) II

27 - 3

(HT 0-0)

Cleobury Mortimer

Newport (Salop) II

Cleobury Mortimer

On Saturday afternoon the 2^nd XV began their 22/23 season against Cleobury Mortimer, welcoming them to a dry and dusty Old Showground. The game started out scruffily, with Cleobury enjoying an extended period of possession for the first 10 minutes of the game. Eventually, Newport’s discipline gifted Cleobury an opportunity for the first points of the game from a penalty kick. 0-3 Cleobury. Newport then enjoyed their own period of dominance, and eventually found themselves with a scrum 10m from Cleoburys tryline. Luke Kendall picked from the back and headed blindside – carrying two Cleobury players across the line for Newport’s first try of the game. The conversion was missed – the score, 5-3 to Newport.

The first half continued scrappily, with both teams still adjusting to life after pre-season. Tempers boiled over briefly on 38 minutes, with a player from each team sent to the bin for some handbags at the ruck. Soon after, Cleobury were then down to 13, with their number 5 red carded for abusing the referee. Newport were quick to take advantage of their extra man, with some excellent interplay from the forwards down the left wing – the ball was then swung wide right, stretching Cleoburys defence. James Bent was then able to take advantage of an overlap on the left to score Newport’s second try at the stroke of half time. Conversion missed, half time score 10-5.

Newport started the second half strongly, using their set piece dominance to secure excellent ball at both scrum and lineout. 12 minutes into the half, Cleoburys indiscipline was punished by Farge, slotting over 3 points to extend Newport’s lead to 12-3. Cleobury then had an attempt at the posts almost immediately, as Newport infringed from the restart. However, the Cleobury fly half was unable to convert his penalty attempt into 3 points.

With the wind in their sails, Newport settled into their systems and after an extremely strong carry from Rhys Morgan cut deep into Cleoburys 22, the ball swung quickly left through a forward pod and then behind to fly-half Dillon Finnegan who made a lovely miss pass for James Bent to score his second of the game and Newport’s third. Farge converted, taking the score to 20-3. Newport continued their dominance after the restart, and soon enough Billy Parry charged over for the bonus point try after strong carrying from the forwards. Again, Farge converted, taking the score to 27-3.

At this point, Cleobury were desperate for a score to take home to south Shropshire and threw everything they had at Newport’s defence at the end of the 2^nd half. Newport defended resolutely, with multiple turnovers denying Cleobury the opportunity to add to their points tally at the end of the game. The final score, 27-3 to Newport.

Four players made their debuts for Newport in this fixture, 2 of whom were also playing their first game of senior rugby. So, congratulations to Sunny Mahal, Neiko Modi, Gabe O’Reilly and man of the match Fergus Lamb. See you next week as the 2^nd XV travel to Handsworth in round 2 of their new league.