Sat 22 Apr 2023, 15:00
This final game of the season was a landmark for three notable Newport players who have given great service over many years. Chris Perry and Jack Wells were retiring whilst skipper Tom Cowell was standing down after a record ten years in the role.
Nail-biters are becoming the norm of late at Stade Bloor and this game was no exception providing superb, skillful entertainment for a bumper crowd on Ladies Day. Newport, will no doubt rue their indiscipline, conceding no less than twenty-nine points whilst having fourteen on the pitch for almost half the match due to yellow cards.
Jake Leonard’s injury proved worse than was expected and he was replaced in the starting line-up by Nick Yeoward. Cowell took up his usual position at hooker whilst Matt Meek was just about fit enough to take his place on the bench where there were also opportunities for Will Galbraith and Jack Ingram.
Cowell won his final toss of the coin and took Newport up the slope for the opening half and after some early errors from both sides Perry enjoyed his fairy-tale moment, slicing through to score after a solid Newport scrum after six minutes.
Yeoward’s afternoon was ended after just fourteen minutes when he was forced off with a shoulder injury to be replaced by Josh Raqio. Old Reds then hit Newport on the counter, Jalen Curry finishing off the attack to draw things level after sixteen minutes. The home side then put together a great attack through Ricky Bailey, Finn Barnes, George Boughey and Raqio but Charlie Gamble couldn’t take the final pass with the line at his mercy.
Boughey was the first to be carded on twenty-eight minutes, offence unclear, but Newport could be well pleased with their defensive efforts against a physical, yet classy, Bristol outfit getting to thirty-four minutes before conceding from short range after multiple phases, the score going to Ellis Joseph and with Jack Gapper adding the extras the visitor’s led 5 – 12.
Old Reds then extended their lead when after a quick tap-penalty they swept through the home defence where Sam Rees finished off the move by the posts. There was a fairly loud gasp from the crowd as Danny Brough collided with the upright in a desperate attempt to prevent the try, the impact resounding around the ground but after a hold-up in play, whilst not seriously injured he was unfit to continue and his game was over before half-time for the third week running, Jack Ingram replacing him on the wing. Gapper’s conversion meant it was 5 – 19 at the break.
Meek and Rhys Morgan were introduced from the bench but just as last week Newport’s second half started badly, firstly with Raqio being sent to the bin for a deliberate knock-on before Andrew Butler sniped round the fringes of the ruck to cross for the visitor’s bonus point try, Gapper converting for a commanding lead of 5 – 26.
Newport hit back almost immediately when George Castledine, who had a fine game, made the initial break to set up the position for Matt Hubbart and Morgan to get behind the defensive line where Cowell was on hand to score the simplest of tries, Castledine converting to reduce the arrears to 12 – 26 with twenty-six minutes left to play.
Four minutes later, it was Hubbart again making the hard yards, the ball being popped for Perry to wriggle out of a couple of tackles and go in for the score from twenty out. Castledine again converted and it was 19 – 26 and the faithful starting to believe the comeback really was on.
A bout of fisticuffs saw both captains lectured but Newport were given the resulting scrum and moved it left where Gamble burst through and combined with Raqio to put Ingram over in the corner. Castledine couldn’t convert this time but the gap had been narrowed to two points at 24 – 26.
With thirteen minutes left Gapper took the three points on offer from a penalty in front of the Newport posts, extending their advantage to 24 – 29. After a sustained period of phases Castledine then ghosted through a gap in the Old Reds defence to score and convert his own try and Newport led 31 – 29.
Having looked so much in control for much of the match the visitor’s weren’t going to give this game up easily and the game was perhaps decided when Barnes was sent to the bin rather harshly when he made head contact with Jon Cook who had already slipped and was on his knees when contact was made, a pure accident was the view of most observers but sadly Barnes had to go. Gapper knocked over the resultant penalty to restore their lead at 31 – 32 before Curry squeezed over in the corner from the last play to end a pulsating match and a final score of 31 – 37.
A great match to end a memorable season for Newport in their first experience of National League rugby, the standards of which are so high and have been enjoyed by all those who have witnessed the games over the last eight months. Congratulations are due to Bob Adams, the coaching team and all the players who have represented the team. These successes will be celebrated officially at the Club’s Awards Evening on Saturday 20th May. And then, of course, after a deserved break we get ready to do it all over again.
Written by: Chris Wilde
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