Saturday 8 February 2025 16:39
Newcastle 7pts v Newport 48pts
Soft and claggy, the playing surface; hard and full throttle the match. Newport’s third XV visit to Newcastle, not marred by the conditions, as both sets of players put on an undying display. Newport had the edge in being able to finish their chances whilst Newcastle, unfortunate not to score more, found it harder to break Newport’s defence.
Having won possession back from their kick-off, Sandy Stewart’s quickly taken penalty had Newport in attack mode from the off. Harry Peregrine added ground and Marsden Humphries, in support, brought Newport’s first points in the third minute. Noah Gillespie added Newport’s second after battering ram Will Turner’s driving run concluded with a calm back-handed offload to Gillespie, just yards short of the tryline.
Opening up Newcastle again in attack, but this time, Newport spilled possession and Newcastle pounced quickly. Desperate Newport defending repelled Newcastle from certain points but not yet out of danger. Newcastle still in attack but from deeper, attempted to chip Newport’s defence, but Humphries gathered and initiated an immediate counter-attack. Ed Udale broke through Newcastle’s tackles allowing pacy Steve Sawden the half-pitch freedom to run in Newport’s third.
Rounding themselves up, Newcastle’s rapid linespeed twice created alarm in Newport’s handling, but their superiority in the scrum negated their errors whilst both Chris Lindsay and Harry Fletcher dominated in close contact. Newport though should have added another, but passing forward when in the clear gave Newcastle temporary reprieve. Newport were soon on Newcastle’s tryline again, but Newcastle were determined to hold out to the break. Thumping tackles from Duncan Allison and then Lindsay, manufactured a rapid turnover allowing Turner to run through to the posts, catching Newcastle’s flat defensive line off-guard.
Effervescent Newport returned to the second period with greater attacking verve. Dean Tonks establishing control over the loose ball, Fergus Lamb adding fifteen yards, Lindsay of course involved and Turner’s long pass finding Matt Shannon to run into the corner.
Yet, Newcastle were not accepting defeat. Indeed, a sublime floating crossfield kick finding Newcastle’s leaping winger, reaping deserved points for Newcastle. Newcastle ventured again to Newport’s tryline with a threatening lineout, but Peregrine’s steal and instinctive drive averted the peril and moments later was adding to Newport’s tally. Ross Hemmings’ pick-up, Udale and Sawden then searching for a breakthrough at the right-hand corner found Newcastle’s defence resolute. Moving back to the left, Dillon Finnegan’s switching pass inside found the aforementioned Peregrine, the change of direction opening Newcastle’s defence for him to rifle through.
With Newport now camped in the opposition half, only time dictated Newport’s next score and Hemmings duly obliged with ten minutes remaining, using his strength and power to charge through for another Newport try.
Inventive Udale’s long pass then found Humpries attacking the right-wing but was apparently held- up. James Heath’s stinging fingers blocked Newcastle’s goalline drop-out and Fletcher pounced to complete a thoroughly deserved victory against a hard working and very competent Newcastle team.
Notwithstanding the score, this was a challenging fixture for Newport. Newcastle provided constant
and effective opposition throughout and will feel they should have scored more. Newport’s defence
though worked as a homogenous unit to keep Newcastle shut out. Indeed, their try had to be of the highest quality to breach Newport. Newport’s advantage came in their attack; a coherent mixture of speed and strength; a joy to behold.
| First half | Second Half |
| Tries Humphries Gillespie Sawden Turner | Tries Shannon Peregrine Hemmings Fletcher |
| Conversions Finnegan 2/4 | Conversions Finnegan 1/3 Barker 1/1 |
