Sat 28 Jan 2023, 14:00
Newport travelled to the premier sporting university in the land and ultimately were undone by the sheer class shown by the wonderfully talented students many of whom, if not all, will have a future in the professional game once their studies are completed.
Loughborough kicked off and had Newport under immediate pressure and when the visitors collapsed the advancing maul a penalty try was awarded giving the students a 7 – 0 lead after just three minutes. Furthermore, prop Kaid O’Neill was identified as the culprit and despatched to the sin-bin for ten minutes.
Despite being down to fourteen, Jake Leonard put a penalty to within ten metres of the home line, the Newport pack securing their line out and driving forward before the ball was released to the left where debutant Tobi Wilson did well to get over in the corner, Leonard knocking over a superb conversion to tie the scores up at 7 – 7 after seven minutes. Given both sides style of play a high scoring affair was always on the cards and with Newport still a man down Connor Adams had a clearance kick charged down and with their scrambling defence unable to recover Loughborough put lock Mario Pichhardie Garcia over from short range, the Spaniard having just returned from a full international appearance against Namibia, Morgan Meredith adding the extras to increase their lead to 14 – 7.
Worse was to come, when from the re-start the students fielded the ball in their own twenty-two where the impressive Tomiwa Agbongbon broke the advancing Newport line and slipped the ball to Chris Preen who weaved his way through to go all of seventy metres to score by the posts after fourteen minutes, Meredith converting for a score of 21 – 7.
Newport hit back, however, when George Castledine put a penalty into the right-hand corner and when Josh Kent drew in the defence with a strong drive Wilson had an easy run in to the corner for his second score of the afternoon, Leonard striking the post with the conversion attempt. Hooker Isaac Bell was then driven over for a regulation catch and drive try, Meredith converting once more to make it 28 – 12 after just twenty-four minutes. Castledine, Adams and Leonard then combined well to create space for Chris Taylor to get over again in the left hand corner so it was 28 -17 at the break after a thoroughly entertaining half of rugby.
The visitors probably needed the first score of the second period but their hopes were snuffed out when Loughborough hit them on the counter after poor kick chases allowing the silky Loughborough backs far too much space, Preen getting over on forty-two minutes and Charlie Cadogan again on forty-five to snuff out any thoughts of a Newport victory at 38 – 17.
With the home line under pressure, Bell transgressed and was sent to the bin, Newport opted for the scrum and with men over Castledine threw a lovely cut-out pass to Wilson who strolled in to complete a memorable hat-trick on debut, Leonard converting to reduce the arrears to fourteen points.
Cadogan’s second try, converted by Meredith extended their lead to 45 – 24 before a late surge from Newport saw Charlie Gamble brush off a couple of tacklers and go in from fifty metres out for a fine individual try, Leonard converting to make it 45 – 31 bringing them within one converted score of a second bonus point but the students saw out the game on or around the Newport line to finish worthy winners.
As a group Newport’s backs showed some classy creative touches but whilst it is difficult to be critical when faced with such talented opposition Director of Rugby, Bob Adams will be disappointed with some flimsy defence at times and a poor kick chase game, effectively gifting the students far too much room to counter-attack.
The one bonus point keeps Newport level on points with Bournville, who also picked up a good point at Clifton, but keeps them ahead of their rivals by virtue of having won one game more.
Next Saturday sees Newport play their postponed fixture against Ding’s Crusaders in one of their seven home games out of the ten remaining. It is probably fair to say that Newport’s fate will be probably be decided by how many points they can conjure up from these home games with maybe at least three victories required to ensure they are playing National rugby next season.
Newport have recently welcomed Bloor Homes onto their team of sponsors and this will be the first game to be played at the newly named “Stade Bloor”. Big game, big support required, make sure you’re there!
Written by: Chris Wilde
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