Monday 26 January 2026 14:08
This rescheduled fixture, postponed from two weeks ago, was played out in extremely difficult conditions, tacky underfoot, icily cold on the hands and a fairly strong swirling wind to boot. Both teams deserve credit for their tenacity and resilience in such testing circumstances.
It was Newport who prevailed and registered another valuable, if rather patchy win proving too powerful for their struggling opponents. This win, coupled with the Drybrook versus Bournville game falling foul of the weather, saw them installed by one solitary point at the top of the table. Moreover, results elsewhere mean they now have a ten-point advantage over the fourth placed club in the chase for the play-off positions.
Rearranged fixtures always seem to cause availability issues and Newport found themselves without Charlie Gamble and Matt Hubbart whilst Charlie Pugh was a late withdrawal, having failed to recover sufficiently from an injury sustained against Lichfield. Jake Reynolds, Jake Goulson and Benny Elliot all made the starting line-up whilst Rhys Morgan was drafted onto the bench where he was joined by Callum Bradbury and Tom Clarke, the latter two easing back into it following injury.
Despite playing into the wind first up it was all Newport early doors and it was no surprise when after a long penalty advantage Elliot put it into the corner, Port securing the line out for Goulson to peel off the driving maul to the left to register their first score. Elliot missed the awkward conversion but after just six minutes Newport led 0 – 5
Ricky Bailey then made a searing break only to be halted by a high tackle. Elliot then broke free in front of the stand and a try for Reynolds looked certain before Elliot’s pass was intercepted by a Dudley player running back to cover. Nevertheless, you got the feeling it was only a matter of time before Newport added to their score and so it proved when Tim Waqadau danced through some space after relentless Newport pressure to dot down by the posts, Elliot converting to make it 0 – 12 after fourteen minutes.
DK were not going to go down without a fight and they eventually established some field position after a couple of repeat penalties had put them in range. Newport defended their line extremely well but couldn’t break out of their own twenty-two the home side eventually forcing their way over by the posts, the conversion narrowing the gap to just the one score at 7 – 12 after thirty-four minutes.
Newport then put any nerves to bed with two quickfire tries before the interval to quash any thoughts of an upset. First, Chris Taylor crashed over from a catch and drive before Waqadau’s break set up John Tuia to sail through the gap and feed the supporting Billy Dinning who crossed by the posts allowing Elliot to convert and take the teams into the break at 7 – 24, hot tea being the choice of beverage rather than the usual oranges!
DK would need the first score of the second period if they were to have any chance of rescuing the game – they didn’t get it, Newport turning the screw from the off Taylor again driving over from short range for his second, Elliot’s conversion stretching their lead to 7 – 31 and putting the result beyond doubt.
It was only going to get worse for the home side as within moments, Bailey made another break to within ten of the home line, surviving yet another coarse attempt to de-capitate him but resulting in another penalty, from which Newport opted for the scrum and which also saw a yellow card for the offender. Newport got the shove on with the inevitable outcome – penalty try, the scoreboard now reading 7 – 38 after fifty minutes.
There was some respite to come for the home side when they raced in from half way following an interception to reduce the arrears to 12 – 38 just three minutes later and then another close range converted try on sixty-six minutes to give them a sniff of a four try bonus point but it wasn’t to be as Newport finished things off when Elliot Dolphin floated a lovely long miss pass to Luke Kendall, lurking on the right wing, the prop doing remarkably well to muscle his way over in the corner to make it 19 – 43 with just four minutes left on the clock.
Newport saw out the remaining minutes with Rhys Morgan allowed the privilege of booting it out of play for the full-time whistle to sound with players and spectators alike beating a hasty retreat to the warmer climes of the clubhouse with five league points safely secured.
Next up, Lutterworth away next Saturday, where conditions we are told are likely to be wet and muddy. This will be a key fixture in the run down, especially given they managed to do a number on Newport at Forton Road back in October. Hopefully, there will be a good level of support travelling to a venue they have never played at previously. Kick-Off is at 2.15pm