Monday 28 September 2026 10:54
Newport Open Their Season with Tight Win Over Lichfield
The delayed season finally got under way at a sun-drenched Old Showground but at least it was played at a comfortable temperature rather than the scorching conditions of the summer. The Bank was full to witness a game between these two sides which are generally open, expansive and enjoyable for all those watching and last Saturday was no exception with the result in question right up to the last play of the game
The Newport line-up had a familiar look to it with the majority of the squad home grown with just the one new recruit on show, tight head Tom Furnival (from Chester). Another recruit, George Boughey (returning to the club after a two-year stint at Macclesfield) was selected to start but was taken ill on the eve of the match whilst Henry Lockington, a talented Number 8, will have to wait two weeks for his first appearance having been suspended following his dismissal at Anselmians last weekend.
Newport won the toss and chose to go up the slope and into a stiff breeze with Lichfield asked to kick-off. The early exchanges were fairly even but it wasn’t long before the visitors took advantage of the elements, getting in behind the Newport defence when a first up tackle was missed. Several more dominant phases sucked in the home defence and when it was spun left Paul Maxwell-Keys found himself in acres of space following a cut-out pass and strolled over in the corner after just five minutes. Charlie Milner hit a great conversion which was the start of an impressive performance from him both with the boot and with ball in hand.
Billy Dinning, who was a shining light in the Newport side all afternoon, was unlucky when after returning a Lichfield clearance he made good yards before chipping over the last man only to be denied by a cruel bounce that allowed Lichfield to tidy up the danger. Newport weren’t to be denied for too long however and after they had strung some phases together Elliot Dolphin sent Dinning away down the right, who handed on to Charlie Gamble, another impressive performer on the day, to dance through and outstrip the cover to complete the score. Jack Ingram landed a difficult conversion into the wind to tie things up at 7 – 7 after eleven minutes.
Another sweeping move from the visitors almost restored their lead but the Newport defence forced a knock-on in the tackle. Newport won the resultant scrum and attempted to run from deep but when Jake Reynolds was bundled into touch within the home twenty-two Lichfield sensed another opportunity. They spun it left from the line but the final pass floated into touch. Fear not, Lichfield stole the line-out and Matthew Key was driven over from short range, Milner converting to restore their seven-point advantage at 7 – 14 with sixteen minutes played. Newport were coming more into the game now, particularly at scrum time where Furnival, Mike Adams and Tom Clark were beginning to see their physical presence put increasing pressure on the Lichfield pack.
Newport, enjoying a prolonged period of possession moved it around, first right, then left, then right again where Dinning was again in the line to feed Gamble, who chipped over and regathered to score a fine try, Ingram converting and it was all-square once more after twenty-six minutes
There is no doubt that Newport’s line-out work will require some attention during the week but on this occasion it was secured on half-way and the ever-alert Ingram spotted a gap at the tail and scooted through, winning the race to the left-hand corner for a fine individual score, difficult conversion missed but Newport now had a useful lead at 19 – 14 having played against the elements.
That advantage was about to be increased when Newport won a scrum penalty, after which a bit of “lip” saw them advanced a further ten metres and Ingram gratefully accepted the chance to take a shot at goal and take Newport into the break 22 – 14 to the good.
Tom Pick had sustained an injury and was replaced by the experienced Jake Goulson. The rest of the five-man bench (being trialled this season) saw Ollie Bird, Luke Kendall, Will Turner and Henry Williams all introduced during the second period.
Lichfield’s tactics were clear from the off in that they were going to run everything, even from deep and on the evidence of their first half showing clearly had the personnel to execute that plan to good effect but all their efforts so far were contained by a well organised and robust Newport defence and it was the home side who were to strike first. Dolphin took play down the right from half-way before handing on to Charlie Pugh who did the bulk of the damage as he broke through to feed Gamble, the winger returning the favour of the first half by passing inside to Dinning who was able to run round under the posts to complete a fine score and, with Ingram’s conversion, stretch their lead to 29 – 14 after fifty-three minutes.
Most would have expected Newport to go on from here and add more scores but Lichfield clearly weren’t done and started to make inroads as Newport’s control and composure began to fail them somewhat.
Reynolds was rather harshly dismissed to the bin for a deliberate know on and Milner took the points on offer to reduce the deficit to two scores at 29 – 17 with twenty-one minutes remaining.
Reduced to fourteen Newport found themselves under increasing pressure and after a number of drives close to their line Lichfield’s scrum-half Freddie Clarkson sniped round the edge of the ruck to stretch and make the try line by the narrowest of margins. It was an impossible conversion to make from the left-hand touchline into the wind even given the well-demonstrated weight of Milner’s boot but they were very much back in the hunt at 29 – 22 with twelve minutes left to play.
Reynolds had returned but almost immediately after winning a crucial turnover penalty Clark was sent to the bin meaning Newport had played the entire last quarter one man down. Milner took what appeared to be a strange decision in going for the three when a kick for the corner may have borne more fruit especially given their numerical advantage. That being a topic for discussion amongst the touchline experts Milner promptly thumped it over from long range to make it 29 – 25 with what would likely be a tough six minutes remaining.
Newport nearly sealed it with what looked like a near certain try scoring pass but were denied when it was intercepted by Rhys Wynne who raced away to try and win the match but Dinning had turned and ran him down before the visiting winger had made the Newport twenty-two.
Lichfield had one last chance to win it with the last play of the game when they put a penalty to within fifteen of the Newport line but potential hero Milner turned villain when he was penalised for encroaching within the ten metres at the line-out. A gleeful Dinning took the tap and put the ball out to secure an opening day victory that sees Newport collect the full five points whilst Lichfield must settle for the one.
Great match up, some good solid performances but clearly some areas to work on which is only to be expected following an opening fixture of the season. Next Saturday Newport travel to Lutterworth for a 3pm kick-off.
