Monday 30 March 2026 09:23
A Grand Day Out as Newport Topple Champions with Epic Performance
Newport’s final away league match saw them travel to League champions Bournville who as well as clinching the title last weekend also boasted a 100% home record, whilst with only one defeat on the road all season Newport had the most wins away from home.
Newport’s continuing front row crisis with no less than 9 props either injured or unavailable meant that Jack Wells (259 1stXV appearances) and Tom Cowell (207) were both dragged out of retirement to fill the gaps in the squad caused by injuries and unavailability. The plan was probably to play half a match each but when Tom Clarke, their only remaining recognised prop, was forced off after just three minutes with a shoulder injury those plans were thrown into chaos. Both Cowell and Wells went on to complete the whole match and performed like the true gladiators they are throughout.
Not unsurprisingly the visitors were completely dominated when it came to scrum time but the rest of the play went Newport’s way with their defensive line speed, commitment and ferocity constantly bringing an end to Bournville’s attacking intentions.
Newport, shining bright in yellow, kicked off in icy cold conditions and with a near gale blowing straight across the artificial pitch. It was the home side who exerted the early pressure but Newport’s defence was resolute, so when Bournville overthrew at an attacking line-out Ricky Bailey pounced on the loose ball, breaking to half way before feeding the lively Jake Reynolds who raced away before chipping inside the cover for Jack Ingram to gather and go in by the posts for the opening score, to which he also added the conversion to give Newport a 0 – 7 lead after seven minutes.
Dominant at the scrum and drawing penalties Bournville then set up a catch and drive, rolling on in controlled fashion over fully twenty metres for Clarkson McCleod to touchdown, Jacob Fewtrell adding the extras and tying things up at 7 – 7 after sixteen minutes.
The home side struggled to put any concerted attacks together as the Newport defence continued to force them into handling errors or they would lose the ball in contact. Newport still looked the more likely and after a repeat set of penalties that allowed Billy Dinning, who had an outstanding afternoon, to put them into the home twenty-two. Line-out secured Newport were patient, going through several controlled tight phases before George Perkins muscled his way over for Ingram to convert again and restore their seven-point advantage at 7 – 14 after twenty-seven minutes. Bournville then worked their way into the visitor’s twenty-two but more great work at the breakdown, where Finn Barnes, John Tuia and Olly Bird excelled, turned over possession and Dinning and Reynolds were away down the left flank, Bailey eventually held up over the line forcing the goal line dropout.
Bourns had one last chance before the interval but it was Perkins who turned it over this time and Ingram was able to put the ball out to ensure Newport went in at the break with their seven-point advantage intact.
There was no doubt that Newport would have expected a reaction from Bournville in their efforts to go through the season unbeaten at home but the visitors added to their score almost from the off when Tuia burst through some weak tackling and won the race to the corner to make it 7 – 19 with only a minute played of the second period.
Bourns continued their scrum dominance but failed to make it count as they came up against more staunch defence from Newport. Chris Taylor, another with over 200 caps to his name had another excellent game – is there anyone better around this level at tidying up ball at the back of a retreating scrum?
Dinning then pulled off a fine try-saving tackle and as was the case for most of the afternoon Newport were first to the breakdown where Tuia won the turnover penalty to relieve the danger.
Bournville were still trying to attack but were now becoming frustrated with their lack of progress and when they again spilled it in contact Elliot Dolphin gobbled up the loose ball and put in a superb 50/20 that took them to within five of the home line. Newport secured their own throw in and after several more patient phases Cowell peeled off the advancing maul to plunge over. Conversion missed but Newport now led, with the four-try bonus point secured, at 7 – 24 with fifty-six minutes on the clock.
RAF recruit Tom Clifford, previously with Chinnor, replaced Barnes and immediately won a turnover penalty before Dolphin and Charlie Pugh broke up yet another Bourns attack, Dinning’s kick to the right-hand corner seeing Bird and Jake Goulson exchange passes at the front of the line-out for Goulson to add another score and put the game well and truly out of Bournville’s reach at 7 – 29 with just thirteen minutes left to play.
Entering the final stages, Wells’s afternoon was cut short by a few seconds when he was yellow-carded in the Red-Zone, Bourns managing to work the ball left for Kieran Henderson to cross for what was nothing more than a consolation score, Fewtrell’s conversion ending the contest at 14 – 29.
This was Newport at their very best, all the more remarkable given their stretched resources up front but a perfect example of what can be achieved with spirit, determination and togetherness, attributes all shown in abundance in a performance that will live long in the memory.
That said, over the course of the season the league table doesn’t lie and Bournville have proved themselves to be the best side in the division over the twenty-two games when the league programme ends on 11th April. Everyone at Newport offers them our congratulations and wishes them the best of luck in their immediate return to Nat2 next season.
Whether Newport can join them remains to be seen in what will be a very testing play-off programme. With this result they have already secured home advantage on 25th April against either Stourbridge or Newent. Bromsgrove are still in the mix but they would have to rely on both the above clubs losing without picking up bonus points.
If Newport were to come through this tie they will then face Topsham (Away) or Brixham (Home) dependant on who wins that match-up. A Play-Off Final then awaits (Away) against whoever finishes 12th in Nat2 (West) on May 9th
Any further questions on the play-off process by Postcard please!
Written by : Chris Wilde