Monday 24 February 2025 11:23
Rossendale 61pts v Newport 20pts
Following the abandonment of this fixture just three weeks ago under difficult circumstances Newport made their second journey North where both sides would try again. Thankfully, Ian Jones, the home team manager who suffered a cardiac arrest that led to the earlier curtailment continues to make progress, albeit very slowly, and both clubs continue to root for him in the hope that he makes a full recovery.
With a ten-year funding agreement in place from a retired local businessman Rossendale clearly have ambitions to climb up the rugby pyramid and with this emphatic victory moved a step closer towards promotion to the National Leagues.
Such financial backing allows for player recruitment of the highest order so when Newport arrived to find two former international players in the home ranks in the shape of Byron McGuigan (Scotland) and Denny Solomona (England International in both League and Union) it was always likely to be a tough day at the office.
That said, Newport played very well in spells but some poor individual errors cost them dearly as Rossendale exploited every opportunity and ran in nine tries, many of them on the counter from slip-ups by the visitors.
Newport went uphill first half but with a fair old breeze behind them. It was all Rossendale from the off but a fine last-ditch tackle from Tim Waqadau kept them out only for Port to regain possession and work their way up the park with Will Galbraith, Jake Goulson, George Perkins and Matt Hubbart leading the way with some strong carries.
Benny Elliot put a penalty to ten out, awarded for a high tackle, the first of several committed by the home side during the afternoon. Goulson took the line-out and Newport got the drive on but after failing to break the home defence down took the three points on offer when Rossendale strayed offside in front of the posts, Elliot converting to make it 0 – 3 after eight minutes and a promising start to the game
from the visitors.
Rossendale then took a firm grip with tries coming from a pick up at the back of a five-metre scrum, another when weak tackling let them in again. A Newport chip through then went straight into Rossendale hands who added the simplest of tries from distance.
The home side then win a scrum on their own twenty-two, chip over the top, regather and again go in from distance, such is the pace of this home back division. They then add another and after thirty-one minutes it’s 35 – 3, bonus point gained, match won!
Newport enjoyed a bit of a reprieve when yet another high tackle saw the referee brandish a yellow card, even though he couldn’t actually find the card but the player knew exactly what was coming and promptly left the field for a ten-minute break.
Shortly after Hubbart looked to have scored but with the referee on the opposite side of the ruck he was unsighted and unable to award the score. It mattered not as Uluaki Kale was soon barrelling his way over and with Elliot converting it was 35 – 10 at the break.
Despite putting the ball straight out on the full from the re-start, Newport won a scrum penalty whilst driving the home pack off it’s own ball and after a period of pressure on the home line Elliot Dolphin wriggled through for the try. Conversion missed but Newport showing a bit more appetite and now trailing 35 – 15.
Port now starting to dominate the scrum but when awarded the penalty, touch is missed and Rossendale run it back in to extend their lead to 42 – 15. Worse was to come when Newport’s defence opened up to concede yet another score to make it 47 – 15 with a good half hour still to play.
James Tideswell and Kelvin Okeyere came on to replace Jordan Grass and Chris Taylor in an attempt to try and conjure up two more tries that would at least see them take a single bonus point from the game, the chances of which appeared to increase when Oli Bird was driven over for his third in three games, 45 – 20 and twenty-five minutes left to try and claim another score. Freddie Richardson came closest with a
weaving run before sending Jack Ingram away but Rossendale somehow kept them out before Ingram managed to latch onto a chip through and score only to have it ruled out for being in front of the kicker.
It obviously wasn’t going to be. Newport had chances but there was an air of desperation about their play when, in fact, a bit more steadiness and application of the basics may have brough greater reward. Rossendale were throwing it around for fun now resulting in two further converted tries largely brought about by over-eagerness in the Newport ranks.
Final score 61 – 20 and Newport leave with nothing.
Newport’s younger players won’t have previously come up against a team with such experience and ability and hopefully this game will serve them well for when they are met with such challenges in the future.
Another tough game awaits on Saturday when they travel to Anselmians, the nearest challengers to Rossendale for promotion but a full ten points adrift.
Please note kick-offs for all teams in League Fixtures now revert to 3.00pm unless otherwise agreed between both teams and the relevant League Secretary.
