Newport (Salop) RUFC

Sat 26 Nov 2022, 14:30

Clifton

55 - 0

(HT 22-0)

Newport (Salop)

Clifton

Newport (Salop)

It was not that Newport played badly down on the outskirts of Bristol, just that they came up against a team bang in form and littered with players who have played at a higher level and others on Dual-Registration with Premiership outfit Bristol Bears so maybe the outcome was somewhat predictable.

Changes in personnel saw Sam Brown in the unaccustomed position of full-back, whilst Nick Murphy was restored to the second row after missing out on selection over the last few weeks. Jordan Grass also started with Nat Titchard-Jones unavailable due to Army duties.

Newport started well with all the early action on or around the Clifton twenty-two but unable to penetrate a robust home defence, a theme that continued throughout the afternoon that kept Newport well and truly at a distance and unable to threaten the Clifton line.

Newport were penalised at the first scrum, another feature that persisted and meant they were always on the back foot, and although they held the resultant attempt at a catch and drive, another penalty advantage saw Clifton spin it wide where Andrew Davies, having played for Bristol just last week in the Premiership Cup defeat to Gloucester crossed in the corner to give the home side a 5 – 0 lead after seven minutes.

The visitors, although under pressure were competing well, and probably enjoyed their best spell preventing any further score until the twenty-seventh minute when a try was awarded to winger Zakaria Hamid despite a flag up/flag down moment from the assistant referee on the far side so it was 10 – 0 after twenty-seven minutes.

Newport might have struck back before this second score when Connor Adams produced a great 50/22 to give Newport a rare trip into the Clifton twenty-two but the chance was wasted when they lost their own line-out and secondly when Chris Taylor intercepted on his own twenty-two to break up a dangerous Clifton attack. Having been closed down he launched a cross-kick in the direction of winger Reece Beddowes but Clifton were able to get back and cover.

Newport gifted Clifton their third when Brown spilled a high kick and conceded a scrum inside the danger zone. Newport held the drive but home No8 Brad Talbot was on hand to drive over from the base of the ruck for the first of his three tries, converted this time by Luke Cozens to make it 17 – 0.

Dan Broady, a product of the Gloucester academy, crashed over for the bonus point try that saw the sides turn round 22 – 0 at the break.

Again, Newport started the second half well with George Castledine engineering a couple of half breaks that promised much but were snuffed out by a well-organised home defence. Mitch Spencer, a recruit from Championship side Hartpury College, was next on the scoresheet after Newport’s resistance was finally broken nipping through the narrowest of gaps for a try, converted by Cozens, that was richly deserved on his overall contribution for the day, orchestrating much of what Clifton are all about.

Clifton then shoved Newport off their own scrum ball and Talbot pounced for his second, Covens conversion extending the advantage to 36 – 0 after sixty minutes. Newport began to tire and Clifton emptied their bench, another Bear Rhys Charalambous adding the eighth try and Talbot completing his hat-trick with the last to give a final score of 55 – 0.

Newport can take great comfort from this game despite the disappointing score-line, they were competitive for long periods, never gave up whilst recognising that Clifton will be there or thereabouts come April and undoubtedly one of, if not the best teams in the division.

Despite the defeat Newport remain in tenth spot but those below are starting to make up ground so Newport will need to pick up points in their next three games leading into the Christmas break. Luctonians (Away) on 3^rd December, Dings Crusaders (Home) on the 10^th and Bournville (Away) on the 17^th.

Written by: Chris Wilde