Monday 26 October 2026 11:15
True Grit in Adversity as Newport Claim Vital Win
Newport welcomed Syston for the last in their run of three home games, determined to take full advantage before a tough trip to Oxford Harlequins awaits next weekend.
The absence of overnight rain had given the Old Showground time to recover from Friday’s deluge but by kick-off the clouds had opened up once more making playing conditions all the more difficult given there was also a gale force wind to contend with
That wasn’t the only problem for the home side with the back division decimated by injuries to Jake Reynolds and Billy Dinning whilst Charlie Gamble found himself suspended for this game following Lutterworth’s rather vindictive and time consuming “citing” from the game played on 10th October. With skipper Ricky Bailey still sidelined the cards were shuffled to include Henry Longfellow at full-back, Rob Taylor promoted on the one wing and Jack Ingram playing on the other. This meant a first start for Charlie Saunders at scrum-half whilst only Elliot Dolphin. Tim Waqadau and Charlie Pugh remained in position from last week.
Thankfully, the pack remained virtually unchanged other than Fin Barnes starting in the back row. The bench, apart from Jordan Grass, Chris Lindsey and Luke Kendall had a look of “emergency use only” about it with veterans Jack Wells and Tom Cowell making up the numbers and most significantly ALL of them were forwards but more about that later!
Newport went down the slope for the first half but into the teeth of the aforementioned gale. They made what appeared to be the perfect start when after a series of tight phases Barnes finished off under the posts, Dolphin converting to give them a lead of 7 – 0 after just two minutes. Early scores, whilst welcome, can sometimes produce an air of complacency, especially when playing against a side rooted to the foot of the table and Syston were soon to belie this lowly position.
The visitors were soon to show their capabilities at the driving maul and after Barnes had denied them, winning a crucial turnover penalty at the breakdown, they had another chance following a penalty to the corner and Will Hutchings was driven over for the score, Finlay Knockles duly converting to level things up at 7 – 7 with twelve minutes on the clock.
Visiting fly half Matt Steward was marshalling events extremely well putting the ball into the home twenty-two at every opportunity, one of which saw them destroy a Newport scrum resulting in Hutchings going over for his second to give Syston the lead at 7 – 12 with nineteen minutes played. Worse was to come for the home side when Rob Taylor was forced off after just twenty-two minutes to be replaced by Luke Kendall (prop replacing winger) and whilst Kendall wasn’t to be trusted out wide it meant Henry Lockington and Ollie Bird would have to drop out of the pack to fill in on the wing when required.
There was a glimpse of what Newport are capable of when Dolphin sent a cross-kick into the hands of Lockington who broke the first tackle and fed the impressive Pugh who was able to finish in the right-hand corner. All square again at 12 – 12 with ten minutes remaining in the half.
Newport then went multiple phases from short range but the Syston defence held firm before winning a penalty and lumping it to within ten of the Newport line. Newport then appeared to go full length of the pitch which would surely have resulted in another score but they were brought back for a forward pass earlier in the move giving Syston the scrum twenty out. Newport’s defence faltered and a number of missed tackles saw Luke Williams slide in by the posts, Knockles converting to give the visitors a 12 – 19 half time lead but not before Ingram was shown a yellow card meaning they would start the second period with fourteen and with yet another reshuffle required in the backs.
Knockles then took an easy three points when Newport infringed under their own posts extending their lead to 12 – 22. Whilst Newport had the gale in their favour the major disruptions seem to have resulted in them being somewhat naïve tactically, insisting on handling moves which inevitably led to errors.
With just over ten minutes remaining this game seemed to have slipped beyond Newport’s grasp but they rolled the dice with the introduction of Tom Cowell. Moments later Jake Goulson was driving over by the posts, Ingram’s conversion striking the upright but Newport had given themselves a chance at 17 – 22.
Newport then sensed their opportunity and in a fairy-tale ending Cowell was driven over for the decisive score following a penalty to the corner, Dolphin holding his nerve to nail the conversion and put Newport ahead for the first time since the opening minute but all was not done yet as the home side make a hash of the re-start giving Syston the scrum in a dangerous position but as conditions deteriorated further they too knock-on allowing Port to take the scrum and clear.
Pugh then made a fine break, Waqadau also contributing before Saunders dots down by the posts, Dolphin’s turn this time to strike the post with his conversion attempt leaving the result still in doubt at 29 – 22. Syston then won a penalty and put it into the left-hand corner where desperate Newport defence kept them out after wave upon wave of close quarter drives, the situation only resolved when Tom Clark claimed a vital turnover penalty to seal the win, Newport clearly showing their joy at being able to dig deep through difficult circumstances and claim another 5 points to add to their League tally.
The odds were stacked against Newport given the disruptions before and during the match and they showed great character, pulling together and grinding out the win. Not technically their best performance but one that shows when their backs are against the wall the fight showed proves they are collectively a force to be reckoned with especially as, on this evidence, it is doubtful that Syston will be at the wrong end of the table for much longer. Well done to both teams for producing a real contest in atrocious conditions.
Next Saturday Port travel to Oxford Harlequins for the first ever fixture between the two clubs when hopefully some of the injury concerns will have eased. Keep an eye on Social Media for confirmation of Kick-off time
