Monday 15 September 2025 13:13
For the second successive week, Newport Second XV succumbed to a single point loss. On each occasion, their opponents snatching victory with their only points in the second half; a kicked penalty. An exuberance of youth pervaded Whitchurch’s lineup bringing with it speed and mobility, both with the ball and in their support running causing Newport problems with their counter-attacking. Newport though, still trying to find full cohesion, displayed the promise that will see them truly take-off, once all the pieces fully click together.
Conceding two tries within ten minutes, as Whitchurch twice charged down Newport’s kicks, hints at Whitchurch’s greater starting speed. Both tries began with Newport forfeiting possession too easily and Whitchurch responding with electric counter-attacking swiftness, Whitchurch’s full-back making thirty yards and offloading superbly for their second.
Newport’s forwards responded with much improved urgency. A Liam Wordley sidestep gained extra yards, Jakes Bates, Ben Turner and namesake Will impelled Newport into Whitchurch’s 22. Fast-footed Fergus Lamb urged Newport further forward and Billy Parry using his power to thump through Whitchurch’s desperate defensive line.
The contest now in the balance, who could impose themselves on the other? Jake Reynolds’ 25-yard blast on the left-wing, somehow curtailed, showed early promise in this window, but a quickly taken and unsighted free-kick, just outside Newport’s 22, caught Newport off-guard. Extending their lead, Whitchurch sought to seal the tie with a further demoralising blow before the break. However, Newport, despite being penned in, defended resolutely repelling each of Whitchurch’s set-piece plays from close range.
Whilst Whitchurch provided moments of danger in the second half it was Newport’s positive possession-based rugby which looked more likely to reap points. Ricky Bailey’s tackle forcing the knock-on, an intercepted pass in midfield ripped back by Reynolds and bustling Whitchurch out of play in the corner all moments of danger averted by Newport. But when Jason Seabrook comfortably collected Whitchurch’s probing chip it was Parry who emerged through the melee, rounding Whitchurch’s fullback to plant beneath the posts.
Six minutes later, Newport wrested the lead for the first time. Valeba Bis and Lamb consolidating Newport’s lineout, Sam Sergeant recycling through the backs and Bailey stretching over for a two-point lead. Then, with eighteen minutes remaining Whitchurch kicked their central 22-yard penalty, resulting in a tense finale of game management and discipline.
Immediately, Parry’s recovering tackle and Bis’ ankle tap denied Whitchurch an almost certain try and later, Will Galbraith stealing the ball from Whitchurch’s short distance maul stymied both of Whitchurch’s dangerous moments. A dubious yellow card left Newport with an uphill battle but whilst Bis, Turner, Llewellyn Evans and Galbraith carried hard into contact, Bailey’s movement created openings for Reynolds and Finn Barnes. Alas, and again, Newport close, but edged out by a fast and solid opponent.
Newport must see the positives in both performances at the beginning of this term. Although there are changes of personnel, this is not a transitional season. Direction of travel is positive, line-outs and scrummaging are now solid and patterns of play starting to become ingrained. There is still work to do but a winning horizon is surely fast approaching.
| First half | Second Half |
| TriesBilly Parry | TriesBilly ParryRicky Bailey |
| ConversionsBen Tagg 1/1 | ConversionsBen Tagg 2/2 |