Monday 1 December 2025 16:02
Newport 2s hosted Aston Old Edwardians at an eerily quiet Old Show Ground. The away faithful outnumbered the home crowd as the usual home support were attracted by the short journey to Bridgnorth where the 1s rekindled their old rivalry after 3 seasons in different leagues.
The few who cheered on the home side were not disappointed. The ground was lit up by a full rainbow and scintillating play as Newport 2s delivered a near faultless performance and handed Aston their biggest defeat of the season.
Newport 2s were disrupted before kick-off with dropouts and illness requiring changes to the starting lineup, and leaving only 1 partially fit replacement on the bench in Liam Wordley. Rhys Morgan, loyally turned out on the bench, but is still coming back from injury and was only to be deployed ‘in case of emergency’. Jack Ingram moved from 15 to 9, and Toby Edgerton from 9 to 12. The ever-versatile Harry Peregrine moved from the flank to the wing and Rob Mayer started at 6.
Such is the strength in depth of the men’s squad these days that the disruption had very little impact.
Playing up the hill, Newport 2s slowly moved through the gears in the first 10 minutes having received the KO. Eventually a wonderfully executed 50:20 by Dan Robinson, off the back off 2 successive MoTM performances, won Newport a lineout deep in the red zone. The ball bounced off the advertising hoardings and Jake Bowyer quickly threw in to Toby Egerton who was in under the posts only to be called back with the referee (who had an otherwise excellent game) momentarily confused that it was Newport’s throw in. Newport’s disappointment was short lived as Will Galbraith (imperious in the lineout all afternoon) rose to set up the maul and Oli Bird steered the drive for the 1st try of the afternoon. A difficult conversion kick from the touchline went wide. 5-0
Newport’s 2nd try was a one of two contenders for November’s Try of the Month.
Aston kicked a touch finder down to Newport 5m line. Newport took the lineout cleanly and Aston indiscretion gave Jack Ingram the opportunity of a quick tap. Ingram ran a full 70m before being brought down on Aston’s 22. The clear-out was swift and the ball moved right by Egerton (the benefit of having two 9s on the park) with a long pass to Robinson who in turn gave an accurate 20m pass to Pick. The ball was quickly passed on to Humphries who drew the cover and passed deftly to Bowyer on the switch and Jake was in under the posts. Champagne rugby at its best. Robinson added the extras. 12-0
Newport’s third try once again flowed from excellent phase play and great game management. A scrum wide on the right flank saw the ball more infield to Sergeant on the crash. With the ball offloaded out of the tackle and quickly moved left Newport were deep into Aston’s 22. More Aston indiscretion gave Ingram another chance of a quick tap just 10m out. The Aston defence couldn’t resist tackling him without retiring and their 6 was shown a yellow card. Newport’s dominating lineout went into action again from 5m out and having secured Galbraith’s catch, Chris Lindsay rolled left out of the maul to score before the predatory Bird could take the ball from him. Another tough conversion kick went wide. 17-0
From the resulting restart Aston kicked deep into Newport’s 22. Pick fielded the ball and carried hard. Subsequent carries and tips by Turner, Lindsay and Sergeant took the home side up to their 10m line before Robinson put in another huge kick to secure Newport a lineout in Aston’s half. An exit drill executed with pace and accuracy up the hill and into the wind. The stuff coach’s dreams are made of …. yet rarely fulfilled!
Inevitably the lineout was secured by Galbraith and quickly moved infield for a forward carry and a training field move. Ingram’s pass back against the flow saw the ball transferred to Humphries via Galbraith. Blasting through the line from full back he was under the posts without a defender’s hand laid on him. Bizarrely, Robinson (presumably and metaphorically giddy from the champagne [rugby]) missed the extras from in front of the posts. The only blemish on another excellent performance. 22-0 and the bonus point secured.
Newport’s fifth try of the first half once again resulted from an excellent 22 exit drill. Pick carried of the base of a scrum and Robinson put in another long and accurate clearance kick against the elements which took play up to Aston’s 22. Outstanding defence forced Aston to kick long and deep on the wind. The ball was fielded by Robinson who gained some ground before shipping it left to Humphries who scythed in from the left wing, cutting through the retreating Aston defence to once again dot down under the posts. 29-0 and half time.
Newport’s opener in the 2nd half came off another 5m lineout. Aston initially defended the Newport maul well and brought it to ground. Turner cleared the ruck and Boot seized up the ball and dove over for the try. Robinson added the extras. 36-0
A few minutes later Newport troubled the scorers again. Galbraith set up the lineout maul for Liam Wordley to enjoy the armchair ride and dot down for another try. The conversion went wide. 41-0.
The 2nd try of the month contender came off the restart. Robinson caught the ball in the 22 and offloaded to the marauding Wordley who had shrugged off his flu and stopped feeling sorry for himself following his try. Liam carried to the 10m. Ingram passed left and Robinson’s long miss pass put Sergeant away. Sam passed to Marsden who had joined the line from 15, and in turn offloaded to Peregrine who carried the ball over Aston’s 10m. The supporting backs cleared the ruck and Ingram’s flat pass in field to Mayer gifted him the carry. Another fast ruck gave Ingram quick ball to Robinson allowing him to find Ben Turner running the perfect outside-to-in line and some 30m out. Despite 70 minutes in the front row Turner’s recent conditioning regime showed its benefit as he broke 3 tackles to crash over for his first try of the season and his first senior try from more than 1m out. The crowd went wild whilst the home side congratulated him appropriately. 48-0
The home sides next score had its origins in a massive clearance kick by Robinson out of his own 22. The perfect tactic on a cold, blustery day. Aston knocked on whilst fielding the kick and gifted Newport a scrum on Aston’s 22. Robinson called a strike move. The play wasn’t executed well with the ball knocked backwards in mid-field. However, Robinson recovered the ball on the floor, broke a tackle for a few yards and slipped the ball to Egerton who was in under the posts. 55-0
Aston hadn’t given up though, and from the restart drove the ball up the hill. A sleepy, and perhaps overly confident Newport defence, stood off and the ball was passed left and wide and Aston went over in the corner. 55-5.
Thereafter Aston struggled to get out of their half and Newport shifted the ball left and right with ease. The final try exemplified the great teamwork showed by the 2s that afternoon.
The forwards won a 5m scrum against the head. Ingram’s quick reaction gave Robinson the change to throw yet another accurate long pass, this time off his left hand, and Egerton went over for second. The extras were good, and the match ended 62-5.
Dan Robinson was named Man of the Match for a third week in a row. Food for thought no doubt for the selectors.