Monday 12 October 2026 08:35
Grove Put an End to Newport’s Winning Start
Newport welcomed old adversaries, Bromsgrove, to a dry and blustery Old Showground where a tight but entertaining game was anticipated by both teams and spectators alike and it certainly lived up to it’s billing with the visitors taking away maximum points with a thoroughly deserved victory.
This was originally scheduled as a blank date but the rearranged season meant that both teams were forced into changes due to availability issues.
Skipper Ricky Bailey and Will Galbraith were still missing through injury whilst Charlie Gamble and Tom Clarke were also absent. Luke Kendall came in to start at prop with Tim Waqadau making his first start of the season on the wing.
Llew Evans and Charlie Saunders came on to the bench where they were joined by Ollie Bird, Henry Longfellow and Henry Lockington, the latter making a delayed start to his season following a two-week suspension.
Newport gave the visitors the benefit of both wind and slope for the first period and despite an early setback when a first up tackle was missed and Ben Tibbetts was on hand to take the scoring pass, Tom Mitchell converting they did by and large contain a rampant and physical Bromsgrove outfit with some outstanding defence in their own twenty-two.
They gained a further boost when Jake Reynolds, repeating his efforts of last week, intercepted a dangerous Bromsgrove attack to race clear from fifty out to score under the posts, Jack Ingram’s mis-hit conversion striking the crossbar and bouncing out. Nevertheless, most in the Newport ranks would have settled for a 5 – 7 deficit after nineteen minutes having negotiated a pressure-filled opening quarter
Newport continued to suppress the visitors but it all went horribly wrong in the last few minutes of the half. First, an injured Mike Adams had to be replaced by Bird, then a defensive clearance was charged down with Bromsgrove winning the scramble to touch down behind the Newport try line. Mitchell again converted to make it 5 – 14. With Newport trying to see out the half they conceded again, Will Harris cutting through to score. Mitchell couldn’t add the extras but Grove went in to the break with a 5 – 19 advantage.
Billy Dinning, Luke Kendall and John Tuia all departed making way for Longfellow, Evans and Lockington to enter the fray. Ideally, Newport needed to score early to get back into it but whilst they were able to exert some pressure it wasn’t quite as effective as that shown by the visitors in the first half and Grove made them pay when after a series of repeat penalties Rich Hance powered over by the posts, Michell’s conversion putting the visitors in control at 5 – 26 with forty-eight minutes on the clock. Newport did eventually get a much-needed score when after a series of driving mauls had sucked in the defence the ball was spun wide right to Waqadua who finished well from twenty out. No conversion but at least the deficit was reduced to 10 – 26 after fifty-six minutes.
Charlie Saunders replaced Ingram to make his debut and almost immediately he was peeling away from another driving maul to score by the posts, Elliot Dolphin taking over the kicking duties converted and the score board now read 17 – 26, all this having been set up when prop Tom Furnival decided it was time to lump it forward, as it turned out a fine kick to create the position!
With eighteen minutes remaining Newport required a minimum of two scores to take a narrow victory but all their work was undone when the visitors got themselves into the Newport twenty-two and decided to stay there, no matter how long it took until they scored, Harris adding his second of the day when space was created out wide after what seemed an age of Bromsgrove pressure. It was now 17 – 31 with thirteen minutes remaining.
Much as they tried Newport just couldn’t find the rhythm and concerted possession to make it count and they had to wait till the eightieth minute for Reynolds to cross again wide out on the left, Dolphin nailing a difficult conversion to secure a second bonus point at 24 – 31. There was just time for the re-start but when Grove recovered possession they put it out of play to end an excellent encounter.
Probably not Newport’s greatest performance and few could argue that they were beaten by the better side on the day but the two bonus points secured at the death sees them retain second spot behind the only unbeaten team left in the division, Stourbridge, who they trail by three points.
Another home match awaits next Saturday when they entertain newly-promoted Moseley Oak who have made a good start to the season having, like Newport, clocked up two wins from their three opening fixtures.
