Newport (Salop) RUFC

Sat 7 Jan 2023, 14:15

Newport (Salop)

32 - 38

(HT 22-35)

Leicester Lions

Newport (Salop)

Leicester Lions

A gargantuan effort reaped two valuable bonus points for Newport in a game they came within metres of winning. Despite the gulf in league positions with Leicester top and Newport near the foot of the table Newport were a match for their opponents in every facet of the game.

Lions were fast out of the blocks with hooker Oli Taylor going over for a try, following driving play, converted by Ben Young. Newport quickly retaliated with a try by their hooker, Perez Raqio, soon followed by a Newport penalty by Jacob Leonard taking them into an 8-7 lead.

Lions came back with a nippy try by their scrum-half James Stubbs, with Young adding the extras.

Newport returned with two rapid tries. The first by the pacey Reece Beddows who gathered a dropped ball in Newport’s own half, the second a superb team try finished off by Jake Leonard. Leonard adding both conversions, taking them to a 22-14 lead.

Lions then had an electric patch in the ten minutes leading up to the break with tries by George Watkins (2) and Devon Constant, with Young adding all three conversions, taking the score to 22-35 at the interval.

On 47 minutes Newport showed their domination with a second try by Raqio, with Leonard adding the conversion taking the score to 29-35. Newport dominated the second half with Reece Morgan making some destructive carries and Josh Kent within one tackle of a superb breakaway try.

Lions and Newport added a penalty a piece to the score board by Young and Leonard respectively, taking the score to 32-38 on 55 minutes.

Newport took on Lions in the last 25 minutes of the game camping for a significant period in their opponents twenty-two and coming within metres of winning. A scrum penalty against Newport in front of the Leicester posts finally relieving the pressure on the visitors.

Newport will be looking to carry this momentum into next week’s game away at Barnstaple.

Full Time: Newport Salop 32 Leicester Lions 38

Newport: Ricky Bailey, Max Himbury, Chris Perry, Jake Leonard, Reece Beddows, George Castledine, Connor Adams, Nathan Titchard-Jones, Perez Raqio, Kaid O’Neill, Matt Hubbart, Nick Murphy, Oliver Buckley, Josh Kent, Chris Taylor;
Replacements: Jack Wells, Rhys Morgan, Jordan Grass, Jake Goulson, Sam Brown;

Leicester Lions: Alex Wilcockson, George Watkins, Dan Martin, Luke Bouchier, Devon Constant, Ben Young, James Stubbs, Tom Williams, Oli Taylor, Isaac Thompson, Ollie Tapscott, Ethan Godefroy, Simon Johnson, Johnny Murdoch, Nick Cairns;

Replacements: Aston Gradwick-Light, Shaun Murray, Will Ward, Drew Rudkin, Zach Bean;

Newport 32: Tries: Perez Raqio (6, 47), Reece Beddows (21), Jacob Leonard (26); Conversions: Jacob Leonard (22, 26, 47); Penalties: Jacob Leonard (12, 55);

Leicester Lions 38: Tries: Oli Taylor (3), James Stubbs (14), George Watkins (29, 36), Devon Constant (39); Conversions: Ben Young (4, 15, 30, 37, 40); Penalties: Ben Young (50)