Saturday 15 February 2025 12:49
Newport 40pts v Blackburn 17pts
Not quite the silky-smooth performance of the previous week but an emphatic win nevertheless and also a satisfying “payback” for their last second defeat up North back in early November. The visitors scored first and last but in between Newport were able to register six tries to take the spoils with a bonus-point win and maintain their position in the top half of the table.
That’s not to say Burn didn’t cause Port a few problems, largely in the first half when they had the benefit of the slope, and with a bit more composure could have taken a bigger lead in at the break than they ended up with.
Some flimsy tackling let Blackburn in for an early score under the posts which gave them a 0 – 7 lead after just eight minutes. The visitors were piling on all the early pressure before Charlie Gamble broke to take play up into the visitor’s twenty-two for the first time but the Burn defence forced a knock-on as Newport strove to spin it wide.
There was then a brief delay for an eye injury to Uluaki Kale who was forced to leave the field giving an early entry to the fray for Freddie Richardson from the bench. Blackburn then set up good field position and when Port were penalised decided to take the three points on offer to extend their lead to 0 – 10 after seventeen minutes.
Elliot Dolphin, who had his best game in a senior shirt as he continues to grow and develop at ten, saved the day for Newport scrambling back to tidy up a neat chip through by the visitors. Benny Elliot then went for points when Burn were penalised some forty metres out but pushed his attempt wide as Newport remained scoreless with twenty-six minutes gone.
The visitors were coming under increasing pressure as half-time approached and when Elliot put a penalty to within six metres Olly Bird was driven over for a second try in consecutive games, Elliot converting with just four minutes to go to the interval.
Blackburn claimed their own re-start but Newport recovered possession and cleared to half-way whereupon the visiting scrum half took advantage of a huge hole at the back of the Newport line-out and looked odds-on to score before losing possession just short of the whitewash. There was a fleeting chance for Newport from a chip through by Dolphin but Burn tidied up the danger and cleared to bring the half to a close at 7 – 10.
A three-point deficit with the slope to come suggested this was a very winnable position and an early score to take the lead for the first time eased any lingering nerves there may have been. Newport claimed the ball from their own kick-off and when Tim Waqadau made a searing break down the right channel, the supporting Elliot was on hand to take the scoring pass, conversion of his own try making it 14 – 10 in the blink of an eyelid.
Dolphin again then tidied up a dangerous looking chip through by the visitors and Newport cleared past half-way. Blackburn were then forced to drop-out from under their own sticks, Elliot countering to great effect to set up another break for Waqadau who, similar to the score just minutes earlier, fed Gamble this time to scamper over, Elliot’s conversion proving good via the upright to make the score 21 – 10 after fifty- two minutes.
Newport collected the re-start and it was Dolphin this time who was the provider scything through the Burn defence and feeding Gamble for his second score within a few minutes, Elliot again adding the extras and the scoreboard read 28 – 10 after fifty-six minutes.
A rare Blackburn attack saw them held up over the line by a resolute Newport defence but it wasn’t long before the home team were back banging on the door, a twenty-metre bullocking run from Matt Hubbart, where he was held just short, setting up the position that allowed Elliot to take advantage of the chaos created in the Burn defence and cross for their fifth try of the day, conversion missed this time but Newport’s lead stretched to 33 – 10 with around fifteen left to play.
A constant wave of Newport attacks was rewarded when skipper Ricky Bailey was able to burst through brushing off several would-be tacklers on the way to dot down, Elliot’s conversion making it 40 – 10.
With Waqadau now in the bin, Blackburn were able to set up camp close to the home line and despite some heroic defence the visitors squeezed in at the corner, a superb conversion giving the score an air of respectability and bringing matters to a close at 40 – 17.
Another impressive performance from Newport with hard carries throughout from George Perkins, Will Galbraith and Hubbart which set the scene for the backs to thrive, Dolphin being the pick of the bunch.
Newport must make the return trip to Rossendale this coming Saturday following the abandonment earlier this month. No doubt it will be a really tough test against a team who look to have the title almost wrapped up. Kick-off is at 2.15pm
