Monday 23 December 2024 09:55
Newport 38pts v Leek 36pts
Newport welcomed a resurgent Leek to the Old Showground for their final fixture before the Christmas break. The visitors having lost their opening nine games had now won their last two including a convincing and impressive victory over Penrith last weekend that gives them real hope and confidence that they can climb out of the relegation spots.
The visitors didn’t disappoint giving an excellent account of themselves that belied their lowly position in the table and they will surely have left wondering how exactly they managed to pluck defeat from the jaws of victory.
As for Newport they mixed up selection a little including giving debuts to youngster Oli Bird at hooker and Billy Parry in the back row whilst Rob Taylor also made the starting line up for the first time this season.
The hosts went down the slope first half, also having the benefit of having the strong wind at their backs. Newport were quick into their stride and after multiple carries inside the Leek half they eventually knocked on giving the visitors a scrum ten metres out where they conceded the penalty, the ever-alert Fin Barnes seeing the opportunity for a quick tap and going over by the sticks, Benny Elliot converting for a score of 7 – 0 after just six minutes.
With limited ball early doors Leek showed what they were capable of especially through Joe Byrne, the visiting scrum half who was a livewire throughout and often getting the visitors on the front foot but it was Newport who added to their score after thirteen minutes when play swept right and Parry cantered over unopposed, Elliot again converting to make it 14 – 0 and all going according to plan. Except it wasn’t as they spilled the re-start, the first of many basic errors on the day and Leek capitalised on their gifted position and Byrne was in for the try, duly converted to reduce the deficit to 14 – 7 after fifteen minutes.
Fergus Lamb, who had another fine game then made a burst into the Leek twenty-two before getting stripped of possession in the tackle. Leek won the scrum penalty and Byrne set off on yet another mazy, probing run through the heart of the home defence but Newport managed to turn over possession and countered at speed, Charlie Gamble making good ground before chipping in behind the Leek defence for Jack Ingram to gather and score, Elliot’s conversion restoring their fourteen-point advantage at 21 – 7.
But, hold on, press the repeat button. Newport spill the restart, Leek set up position, go through some patient phases before Joel Hine crossed out wide to the left, unconverted but a valuable score nevertheless given the elements to bring it back to 21 – 12. Newport continued to threaten but became frustrated as the half wore on with the feeling all around the ground that a nine-point lead at the interval simply wouldn’t be enough.
As torrential rain erupted just five minutes before the break both sides were grateful to head for the sheds for much needed shelter and decide on the tactics for the second half.
Disaster from the off for Newport, they collect the kick-off this time but turnover possession and Byrne is in again at the corner before Newport are caught napping ten metres out at the lineout and Jack Newton-Taylor is in for another. Newport then commit further hari-kari attempting an unlikely off-load out of the back of the hand to present Hine with his second so after ten minutes of madness, carelessness call it what you will Leek were in complete control at 21 – 31 and Newport looking very much down and out.
This could get messy but Newport broke from the back of a scrum on half-way and Tim Waqadau was away, slipping the inside pass to Elliot who scampered in by the posts and converting his own try to give Newport a sniff at 28 – 31 with sixteen minutes left, the hard work all undone by another individual error that presented a further try to the visitors awarded to Hane to comple a fine hat-trick. With the minutes ticking away and a scoreline of 28 – 36 Leek would surely see it out but there was still hope for Newport when Ricky Bailey broke through and fed Ingram who just about beat the cover to stretch over, Elliot converting to make it a one-point game at 35 – 36.
The “Weather Gods” were shining on Newport as the strong wind abated allowing Newport to set up camp in the Leek twenty-two whereupon the visitors created their own version of “hari-kari” suffering three yellow cards within several minutes reducing their numbers and reducing their chances significantly of hanging on. They did remarkably well to stop the hosts crossing their line but when another penalty came their way it was a simple choice for Elliot to knock it between the posts and secure what had looked a highly unlikely 38 – 36 victory.
What a game? The large crowd certainly couldn’t claim they weren’t entertained but most will acknowledge it was perhaps one that Newport got away with. They needn’t dwell on that for too long as there have been several times so far this season when they have come out on the wrong side of a one-point defeat or lost on the last play of the game.
Merry Christmas to one and all – next instalment, the long trip up to Penrith on 4th January
