Monday 9 March 2026 14:10
Youth to the Fore as Newport Seal Nuneaton’s Fate
A much-changed Newport side saw debuts for Chris Lindsey in the second row and
Will Turner at blind side flanker. Both players gave assured performances, Lindsey
going the full eighty minutes whilst a shoulder injury forced Turner off midway
through the second half.
It was, however, the youth on display that stole the show on a dry but chilly afternoon
with Charlie Pugh, Jake Reynolds, Ben Hurford-John, Ollie Bird and Kelvin Okeyere
re-uniting in the same starting XV following their historic exploits in the Colts side of
2023/24. It may well have been a larger contingent had Elliot Dolphin and Billy
Dinning been available and fit to play but that will have to wait for another day.
With Nuneaton hovering on the brink of relegation it was somewhat of a surprise
when, after dominating the early exchanges, they crossed for the opening score
following some weak tackling in the Newport defence for a 5 – 0 lead after just three
minutes.
Maybe this was the wake-up call that shook Newport into action as, but for a few
isolated incidents, they dominated the game from thereon in, ten of their eleven tries
being scored by the young backs who were well-orchestrated by the experienced
player-coach Benny Elliot, getting a rare start at ten in the absence of Dolphin.
Reynolds fielded a Nuns clearance and not for the first time linked with Elliot who
then put Charlie Gamble through the gap to set up Pugh to finish off from twenty
metres out, Elliot landing the first of eight conversions to put Newport’s noses in front
at 5 – 7 after six minutes.
Combination would probably have to be the “Word of the Day” as Reynolds and
Pugh then put Jack Ingram in under the posts after eight minutes to stretch it to 5 –
14, Hurford-John then scooped up a loose ball to go in under the posts from fifty out
before Pugh and Reynolds created the chance to send in Gamble for the bonus-
point try and a lead of 5 – 26 at the end of the first quarter.
Life was difficult enough for the home side and certainly a yellow card, the first of
three on the day, wouldn’t help their cause. Newport opted to take a scrum from the
resultant penalty and after several drives that came to nought the ball was spun right
for Pugh to shoot through for his second to make it 5 – 31 on thirty-five minutes with
no further scores being registered before the interval.
Nuns would hope to start the second half well but Newport were in again virtually
from the re-start, Hurford-John and Reynolds doing the fancy stuff before feeding
captain Ricky Bailey, who was no doubt delighted with the showing of his young
charges, and he was able to cross by the posts allowing Elliot to add the extras and
extend their lead to 5 -38.
Matt Hubbart, who had a fine game in the “boiler-house” joined Tom Clarke, Lindsey
and Turner in making some hard yards that again drew the penalty as Nuns found
themselves under increasing pressure. Port again opted for the scrum, Elliot ghosted
through with ease and in converting his own try quashed any lingering idea that there
may be a remarkable comeback on the cards.
It was now 7 – 45 after forty-seven minutes with the home side staring down the
barrel of a hefty defeat. Several interchanges involving the bench ensued with
Okeyere and Rhys Morgan entering the fray and whilst not everything worked
perfectly as standards of execution slipped a little Newport continued to add to their
points tally.
Hubbart stole the Nuns line for maybe the fourth time of the afternoon before
charging downfield and setting up position on the Nuns twenty-two, the ball being
sent left for Hurford-John to squeeze in at the corner and bring up the fifty. John
Tuia, another who excelled on the day made a great break up the middle before
handing on to Morgan who, having made his customary ten yards handed on to
Reynolds who capped an outstanding performance by dancing through sublimely to
score by the posts, the conversion stretching the lead to 5 – 57 with sixty-six minutes
on the clock.
There was even time for veteran ex-skipper Tom Cowell to make a ten-minute
cameo appearance from the bench when he replaced Bird at hooker. Port then
attacked down the right for Gamble to jink here and jink there before popping the ball
inside for Luke Kendall to grab the solitary forward’s try on the day.
Elliot then chipped through for Reynolds to re-gather and although the full-back was
collared he managed to slip the ball to Gamble who sprinted in by the posts to end
the scoring at 5 – 71
Although the writing has been on the wall for most of the season this defeat
mathematically seals Nuneaton’s relegation back to Level 6. They are a great club
and will doubtless bounce back sooner rather than later having suffered terribly from
senior player retirements, season-ending injuries to key players and the temptations
laid before their better younger players to try their fortunes elsewhere.
As regards Newport, with just three fixtures remaining a return of six points will
ensure a play-off spot whilst seven would ensure that game would be played at
home against any of Stourbridge, Bromsgrove or Newent. Not as easy as it may
sound as they still have to travel to champions elect, Bournville, adding extra
importance to the home game against Bridgnorth on 21 st March, a fixture that will
play host to the annual Ex-Players lunch. Kick-Off is at 3pm.
Written by: Chris Wilde