Monday 8 September 2025 09:32
A somewhat stulted first half performance, against a fully-fledged Crewe and Nantwich (C&N), left Newport with much to prove in the second half, but that they did. Losing by the finest of margins whilst in reality having done enough in the second period to be out of reach, jars with injustice. But overall, C&N will argue performance-wise, they deserved to be close.
It was however Newport who began the strongest. Jason Seabrook’s measured 50-22 clearance camped Newport into C&N’s underbelly. Drives from Luke Kendall, Will Turner, Fergus Lamb and Liam Wordley were characteristically rebuffed short of the tryline, but occupied C&N’s defence until Inia Masi could exploit the space for Newport’s solitary first half score.
Newport’s early promise began to fracture as C&N then began to exploit Newport’s naivety. First a let- off as C&N missed their kicked penalty awarded for Newport’s obstructive crossing. Pushed out of play in possession and a lineout overthrow worrying signs for Newport. Then, at fifteen minutes, C&N’s unstoppable blindside burst, from their left-wing scrum not only levelled the score, but truly tipped the balance of confidence in their favour.
Crewe and Nantwich twice missed touch from penalties but remained on the front foot, earning another within range and this time succeeding with three points. Newport rallied trying to find the cohesion they desperately needed with several carries and set-plays but somehow were unable to build any number of phases before undoing themselves.
As the break approached Ben Turner’s assured reclaim of possession and calculated carry followed by Will Turner’s belting tackle to force the knock-on and suddenly Newport displayed some shoots of revival. Only to count for nought when C&N intercepted Newport’s midfield pass and with no cover, the easy run-in left Newport ten points adrift and with plenty to rectify.
If the first half had felt like a dis-jointed pre-season introduction, Newport came to the second determined to announce their arrival proper. A massively invigorated press, drove C&N deeper and deeper, and even in possession, C&N remained hemmed in their defensive third. Lamb charged down C&N’s kick but pulled back off the ball whilst the door gaped open, perhaps warranted a harsher sanction than the penalty given. C&N were clearly rattled ceding further ground through ill-discipline but Newport remained focused. Kendall’s unsighted grounding under the posts meant Newport had to endure further without reward and Wordley held-up could have created a nervousness; could Newport make their supremacy count? However, Newport’s Fijian centres added further firepower reinforced outside by Tom Griffiths, whose step into the corner eventually concluded Newport’s dominance with some points.
Newport resumed unrelenting, pressing C&N’s defence to their limit. Despite Newport’s graft C&N’s defence remained resilient, leaving Newport empty-handed, in spite of their prolonged pressure. Suddenly, the pendulum swung, C&N with penalty advantage were unexpectedly battering at Newport’s tryline. Disciplined defending, driving back C&N’s lineout maul and finally held-up gave Newport respite. It was though, Sam Sergeant’s kicked clearance, linespeed and charge down that truly curtailed C&N’s mini-revival and re-established Newport’s attack, leading to Lamb mauling over from Newport’s five-yard lineout and edging Newport into the lead.
Newport only needed to control and manage the game out for victory which their second-half performance undoubtedly merited. But conceding an obscure penalty, with the clock very red, became their undoing. C&N kicked the penalty, snatched the game with their only points of the half and were jubilant to hear the whistle.
Newport will feel unlucky. An easier conversion under the posts had Kendall’s grounding been spotted, producing a more efficient return from their attacking pressure or a harsher sanction for the pull back on Lamb, would both have had significant impacts on the course of the game. Essentially Newport will need to be more clinical to see opponents off when they have the upper-hand. But if they can maintain their second-half demonstration here, future victories will certainly be plentiful.
| First half | Second Half |
| Tries Masi | Tries Griffiths Lamb |
| Conversions Sergeant 1/1 | Conversions Sergeant 1/2 |