Newport 47pts v Birkenhead Park 40pts

Newport 47pts v Birkenhead Park 40pts

A defensive masterclass this was not! Once Newport had secured their bonus point try well before half time to confirm a creditable sixth place finish and with Park playing with the freedom of a side already relegated the game deteriorated somewhat into a bit of a free-for-all. Park were never ahead in this game and trailed throughout but just wouldn’t go away so when they drew level at 40 – 40 with around seven minutes to go there was a distinct possibility that Port would sink to an embarrassing defeat having bossed the game from the start.

Newport had the benefit of the slope for the first half but were also playing into the teeth of a stiff breeze, an unusual weather phenomenon at the Old Showground. The home side were in the early ascendancy and it wasn’t long before George Perkins bustled his way over from short-range giving Benny Elliot the simplest of conversions to give them an early lead.

There soon followed a nice switch move at the back of a scrum on half-way that saw Elliot break before feeding winger Freddie Richardson who did most of the damage before popping it inside to the supporting Chris Taylor to score the first of his three tries on the day. Elliot again converted to make it 14 – 0 after twenty-two minutes. There was worse to come for the visitors when Tim Waqadau countered from the re- start and after breaking a couple of tackles, fed Charlie Gamble who finished off in style rounding the cover defence and grounding by the posts, Elliot converting once more to take the score to 21 – 0 and things looking pretty grim for the visitors.

A chip through from Park saw them win a foot race to the corner to register their first points with the excellent touchline conversion reducing the arrears to 21 – 7 after thirty-three minutes. Uluaki Kale then burst through a number of tackles and appeared to be held five yards out but somehow he managed to free his arms to feed Taylor who crossed under the posts for his second, and the bare minimum requirement of the bonus point try had been achieved, and with Elliot adding the extras Newport led 28 – 7 at the break.

With the job appearing to be done Port started the half somewhat sloppily as Park took advantage of a set of repeat penalties and forced their way over for a converted try that made it 28 – 14. Park then sliced through far too easily with no-one from the Newport defence taking responsibility for nailing the ball-carrier so the visitors were in again by the posts to confirm that a comeback was definitely on the cards. 28 – 21 with only five minutes gone of the second period. Order appeared to have been restored when after a series of drives close to the Park line Matt Hubbart forced his way over by the sticks and Newport could breath again at 35 – 21…….or could they? Perkins had to sit it out for ten minutes after being shown a yellow card whereupon Park hit straight back with two quickfire tries with the Newport defence asleep and suddenly it was 35 – 35.

Park then suffered a yellow of their own for some needless backchat which immediately cost them when Ollie Bird was driven over from the resultant penalty and lineout. Elliot missed his only kick of the day but the home side led 40 – 35. Park then put a penalty into the danger zone but Jake Goulson stole the lineout to alleviate the danger but in trying to run it out Newport knocked on and gave the visitors an attacking scrum thirty metres out. Park spun it left and squeezed in at the corner, conversion missed but the scores were tied again at 40 – 40.

Richardson then made a great break on the counter to set up an attacking position for the hosts whereupon Newport opted for a scrum rather than taking the three on offer – a decision questioned by many on the bank! Fear not Park pulled down the drive for the line illegally to suffer another yellow. Newport had two goes at the catch and drive before Taylor bundled over to complete his hat-trick, a fitting reward to a player who has given so much to the club over many years. Elliot added the conversion to make it 47 – 40 and when the ball is secured from the re-start Newport put it out of play to confirm the victory.

A successful league campaign comes to a close then after a season of re-set and consolidation with the 2 prime objectives achieved – maintain their position at Level 5 and blood as many youngsters as possible from last year’s Colts squad.

Action now turns to Papa John’s Cup Rugby, or at least it should have done! Long Eaton have regrettably conceded the first-round tie which was due to be played at Newport this coming Saturday. With Easter also just around the corner Newport will have a two-week break before playing the winners of the Stockport/Heath(Halifax) tie in what will be a two-legged quarter final to be played on consecutive Saturday’s 26th April and 3rd May – not sure yet which of those will be the home leg but watch this space.