Monday 13 October 2025 13:29
Yet another enthralling, nail-biting contest for Newport’s Second XV, again snatching victory in the final throes. Notwithstanding the equally close cup tie with Shrewsbury, Newport’s point difference tally over four league games is now plus ten, with this hard-fought encounter against a battling and dangerous Newcastle, the largest margin of any. Newport’s stalwart defending for prolonged periods in the first half, denying Newcastle any score until the 35th minute, was key to the overall outcome. And despite the appearance of fatigue in the second half, allowing Newcastle more success, Newport’s goal threat always menaced Newcastle.
An early scrum drive-through and dominant maul from the resultant penalty and lineout put Newport firmly on the front-foot. A quickly taken penalty and recycle to Sandy Stewart, whose scampering, sidestepping spring from eight yards brought Newport’s first points.
Newcastle’s sudden intercept caught Newport off-guard, ceding a swathe of territory and initiating a barrage of Newcastle pressure. Liam Wordley’s belting tackle and Max Swann’s terrific linespeed to close Newcastle’s change of direction set the tone. Newcastle failed to ground the ball over the tryline and then held-up by Newport, felt critical moments as Newport’s resistance held. Then a lifeline from a Newcastle knock-on, Luke Kendall and Fergus Lamb interchanging passes bought some space, but it was Billy Boot who brought the breakthrough. Galloping some 30 yards, bouncing-off Newcastle attention and finding a spritely Wordley as the supporting link; Newcastle had no time to recover. Wordley’s brisk offload collected by the advancing Tom Griffiths, the rest inevitable.
Boot’s dump tackle and Ben Turner’s alert intervention curtailing Newcastle’s quickly taken penalty both hindered Newcastle’s advances, but Newcastle were again dominating territory. Repeatedly turning over Newcastle’s lineout left Newcastle vulnerable to the counter, and when Stewart’s deeper pass found Ellis Dean-Smith toward the left wing, there was no hesitation. Bounding upfield, Dean-Smith outstripped Newcastle’s defence, with Griffith’s running the inside channel for his second and putting Newport nineteen points ahead without reply. Newcastle’s palpable frustration clearly evident.
Newcastle gradually worked their frustration off, grinding Newport down and gaining momentum. Toby Egerton and Max Swann working hard on Newport’s tryline and then Alistair Heath, Turner, Lamb and Boot desperately trying to keep Newcastle out but inexorably, Newcastle finding their way over, under the posts.
Newcastle re-established their possession and territory, despite Newport’s energetic restart, with a 50-22 kick. Missing their opportunities to clear the danger from a penalty, Newport invited Newcastle to further attack them and salvage more of the deficit ending the half, five points apart.
Newcastle continued the brighter after the break but Lamb’s sucker-punch interception and sixty-yard bolt through the centre widened Newport’s lead. And again, Newport were able to exploit Newcastle’s offensive mistake when their attacking pass fell harmless out of play with their winger unaware. Kendall invited Lamb to repeat through the centre, this time Harry Peregrine maintained Newport’s attack, Dean-Smith the eventual beneficiary; surely now Newport were in the clear?
Newcastle’s dogged determination never faltered as the beginnings of fatigue emerged in Newport’s play. One missed tackle amidst plenty of solid ones meant a lively Newcastle could instigate a fightback claiming the next score. Newport’s drive through Newcastle’s scrum was only countered with another Newcastle 50-22 kick and Marsden Humpries try-saving tackle on the right-wing only brought Newport further short reprieve. Newcastle kept their attacking pressure to land another try and with twenty minutes left were now just three points adrift.
Desperate not to succumb to another reverse, Newport somehow found reserves of energy. Building their own revival, Rhys Morgan adding heft, Tom Pick still stealing lineouts and Jason Seagrove manufacturing the final breakthrough. Nevertheless, Newport had defending to do first. Stewart’s vital midfield tackle, Humphries and Seagrove holding-up Newcastle in the corner and the tirelessly metronomic Chris Lindsey keeping Newcastle at bay. However, when Newcastle earned a penalty and advanced to within kicking distance, through ill-discipline, allowing Newcastle to square the game with precious time only for a restart, Newport’s optimism to spin the wheel seemed misplaced. Yet, when Seagrove collected Newcastle’s clearance and went for a punt, all possibilities remained open. Bouncing twice, Seagrove arrived to collect and of course, Griffiths for a hat-trick, circled round behind the posts, to totally deflate Newcastle.
A barnstormer of a game. Newport’s defending on their tryline denied Newcastle for long periods. Their advantage in the scrum and lineout ultimately always gave Newport the edge, but greater understanding and fluidity in attack is emerging. The moves and possession need to be completed to earn the points efficiently and Newport here demonstrated real progression in that area.
First half | Second Half |
TriesSandy StewartTom GriffithsTom Griffiths | TriesFergus LambEllis Dean-SmithTom Griffiths |
ConversionsMax Swann 2/3 | ConversionsMax Swann 1/2Ellis Dewan-Smith 1/1 |