Newport RFC v RGC 1404 – 26th October 2024
Following two narrow losses in Super Rygbi Cymru, the conditions in Newport couldn’t have been better to host a somewhat revived RGC and rectify the on-field situation with a win.
There were few personnel changes following the disappointment of our visit to Pontypool. Henry Palmer was omitted from the matchday squad, Tyler Olding getting the nod as Hooker reserve, whilst Will Reed was given a start at 10, Carwyn Penny making an impact off the bench, if required.
Will Reed kicked off, with the Black & Ambers attacking the Cricket Club end of Newport Stadium. RGC kick returned the ball for a lineout in the Newport half. Nick Thomas took the catch. Newport rumbled forward but a kick straight to RGC fullback Sam Earl-Jones saw him pass to centre Dion Jones who kicked long, forcing Will Reed to track back. The defensive pressure forced Reed to kick short and give RGC the advantage of possession and territory. However, the RGC lineout stuttered, leaving Newport to clear the ball away and build from midfield.
Newport won a 4th minute scrum penalty, Will Reed placing his forwards 15-metres from the RGC line. Nick Thomas was sent skyward for the ball before the rolling maul gained a few precious metres. Chay Foster-Smith battered his way into contact before Che Hope popped it onto Barney Langton-Cryer. The big second row pumped his way close to the posts before Che Hope spotted an opportunity out right, floating a pass to Ioan Davies to enable the fullback to partly round the defence and cross for the game’s opening try, making the score Newport 5 RGC 0.
An error threatened to let RGC equalise the scores shortly after the restart as a pass cannoned off Barney Langton-Cryer’s chest. Sam Williams, the RGC 8, broke right, fed scrum half Connor Dever who had Sam Earl-Jones steaming up in support. His pass to wing Rhys Tudor looked dangerous for Newport, but the winger fumbled, and Newport escaped.
A 9th minute free kick from a scrum, when Ollie Drake wasn’t being allowed to bind, was punished as Che Hope boomed a pass out to Ioan Davies, but the fullback was downed on the Newport 22. RGC whisked the ball away, but Elliot Frewen read the play well, spotted the opportunity and snatched the ball from mid-air, leaving the RGC backline flat-footed. A 70-metre sprint to the line ensued, Frewen’s orange boots whirring in the afternoon sun as the winger rolled back the years to score under the crossbar. Will Reed added the two-pointer to make it Newport 12 RGC 0 with as many minutes played.
RGC knuckled down to work, big drives being sent forward at the Black & Ambers fringe defence. With the softening up work well underway, Billy McBryde, the RGC 10, released wing Sam Stoddard, but he was well marshalled by Ioan Davies. McBryde then put in a neat grubber for centre Afon Bagshaw to chase, but it was too strong and Bagshaw simply ended up on the running track.
Another scrum penalty on 19 minutes had Will Reed place Newport 15 metres out from the visitors line. Ollie Drake mopped up the ball before Jonny Morris threw himself onto the RGC defence. RGC managed to push Newport away, but what followed was freakishly lucky. Che Hope’s kick ahead bounced over the head of Sam Earl-Jones and tantalisingly ahead of scrum half Connor Dever. Dever stretched for it, knocking it forward and upward at the same time. Lloyd Lewis, following up as a good winger should, was rewarded when the ball popped into his hands as he scarpered toward the RGC line unchallenged, leaving Dever prone on the grass, rueing his luck. Will Reed added the conversion to make it Newport 19 RGC 0.
RGC lifted themselves onto the scoreboard on 23 minutes when patient approach play had them pulling the Black & Amber defence around before Sam Earl-Jones crossed for a fine try, Billy McBryde adding the conversion to make it Newport 19 RGC 7 on 23 minutes.
Unfortunately, a couple of injuries saw early baths for both Barney Langton-Cryer and Josh Reid as they were replaced by Rhys Jenkins and Kyle Tayler.
A beast of a scrum on 31 minutes heaved RGC off their own ball, credit to Messrs Fry, Langley, and Drake for this one. The Newport backs were alive to the possibilities, Jonny Morris hammering forward like a wrecking ball, but the visiting defence was resolute. Playing with the advantage, Will Reed kicked Newport to the corner, but the chance went as Newport were penalised for jumping across the line.
Nick Thomas made an excellent call in midfield as he spotted the ball loose at the back of an RGC ruck. He was in Connor Dever’s face, barging the ball-carrier backwards and forcing the turnover. Newport went quickly, getting the ball wide. Elliot Frewen joined the line at pace, Chay Foster-Smith blew a hole in the defence, creating space for Lloyd Lewis to skate into the corner for his second, and Newport’s fourth, try. The score now was Newport 24 RGC 7 on 37 minutes.
Harry Fry was replaced soon after by Josh Reynolds in the front row, but the scrum power was undiluted as another big effort splintered the RGC pack. Lloyd Lewis looked to make ground as he popped the ball to Che Hope. RGC managed to retrieve the ball but found themselves being hauled into touch. Then concede a penalty. They were having THAT afternoon. Che Hope boomed a long pass to the free-running Ben Roach before Elliot Frewen injected pace into the move. As the defence streamed back, they managed to wrestle the ball away but simply ended in touch, giving Newport possession. From the lineout, Elliot Frewen finished the move and dived across for his second try, making the score 29-7, Will Reed’s conversion attempt hitting the upright and bouncing out.
Half Time: Newport RFC 29 RGC 7
Billy McBryde restarted the game as Newport endeavoured to go forward from the outset. Jonny Morris was outstanding as he sucked the defence in, and a fingertip pass to Lloyd Lewis threatened the RGC defence, but the kick ahead was well taken as a mark.
Newport were not to be denied for long, though. Kyle Tayler was across a tackle and challenging for the ball as Newport punched their way forward. Jonny Morris was on Kyle Tayler’s shoulder before whipping the ball out to Elliot Frewen, skipping around Ethan Fackrell’s tackle before basketball-passing the ball to Che Hope as he scampered under the posts to score. Will Reed added the straightforward two-pointer to make the score Newport 36 RGC 7 on 43 minutes.
Garin Harris replaced Ollie Drake on 50 minutes as well as Tyler Olding relieving Wade Langley of duty, and Dai Richards came on for Chay Foster-Smith.
Things got worse for RGC on 51 minutes as they shipped a penalty, centre-field. Will Reed pumped Newport forward, Josh Skinner climbed high for the ball as the rolling maul set. Tyler Olding, ball on hip, looked set as the maul ground its way forward, but it collapsed just over the line. Giving himself a few seconds to process the events, the referee, Mr Rhys Jones, awarded Newport a penalty try and dispatched RGC forward Billy McQueeney to the naughty step to think about what he had done. This made the score Newport 43 RGC 7.
Kyle Tayler was at it again, snaffling deck ball then charging forward, ball in hand, thighs pumping before popping the ball to Che Hope, his last action before being replaced by Luke Crane.
RGC kicked long, but Ioan Davies found time and space as he carved a gap through the defence. Lloyd Lewis was given space to work on the flanks as the ball came back infield. Ben Roach broke a half-hearted tackle before passing to Josh Skinner, the big man cantering in for a popular score. Will Reed added the conversion to make the score Newport 50 RGC 7 on 57 minutes.
Ioan Davies made way for Carwyn Penny on the hour. RGC were unable to complete another lineout, Newport gaining a scrum on the 10-metre line. Another mighty effort by the new Black & Amber front row won another penalty. Will Reed kicked for position, but the rolling maul was eschewed for the wide-open spaces. With the advantage, Will Reed cross-kicked for Elliot Frewen, but the flying winger took a heavy blow as he challenged for the ball. Back to the corner, and Newport threw the kitchen sink at the RGC line, but Afon Bagshaw did superbly well to get an arm in the situation and win the ball for his team. He was let down by teammate Dan Roderick, however, as the replacement scrumhalf dithered behind his own goal line, only for Nick Thomas to ‘sack’ him, NFL-style, and earn Newport an attacking scrum 5. Unfortunately, Newport were then penalised themselves for not pushing straight, and RGC were allowed to escape.
The RGC lineout was possibly their Achilles heel, a 68th minute effort being overthrown affording Tyler Olding the chance to drive at the visitors defence. They held firm for now, but, having won possession back, the kick out from their own goal line was poor. Carwyn Penny’s pass found Lloyd Lewis, but the winger slipped in doing so. He had the wherewithal to get back to his feet, reset himself and head for the line, being rewarded with his third try of the afternoon. The scoreboard now read Newport 55 RGC 7 on 70 minutes.
Newport were attacking almost constantly as the backline appeared to be eager to provide Elliot Frewen with his third try of the day as well. Cross-kicks and long passes were utilised, but the RGC defence wasn’t falling for this. Instead, they fell for a simple training ground move as Ben Roach took a lineout jumping middle, Luke Crane fired a flat pass out to Dai Richards and the centre blazed through the 10/12 channel virtually untouched. Will Reed added the conversion to make the score Newport 62 RGC 7 on 78 minutes.
The Black & Ambers appetite for tries remained strong as Rhys Jenkins blasted up the middle of the park from a lineout, and with the passes flinging around rapidly, a final effort to Lloyd Lewis was deemed forward.
Into stoppage time and RGC were still conceding penalties, and a lineout in the corner was the predictable result. Tyler Olding and Josh Skinner appeared to be cooking up a ‘funny’, but the throw to the big man was too low to take as Mr Jones blew time on this most unexpected of games.
Full Time: Newport RFC 62 RGC 7
Newport RFC have a few weeks free of games now while the Autumn Internationals get underway. Our next dose of Black & Amber wholesomeness will be on November 23rd when we travel up the Western Valley to face an in-form Ebbw Vale RFC. Then, into December, and we visit Bridgend’s Brewery Field for a trip to the Ravens on December 7th before, finally, getting back home to Newport Stadium to host the Whites of Swansea RFC on Saturday December 14th. Why not make an afternoon of it with your mates, come to the Stadium and support the ‘Port!
Also, note for your diary, December 2nd sees the first Newport RFC carol service for many years at St Woolos Cathedral. Details are still being finalised, but please keep an eye on social media. Also, December 15th is the Newport RFC Christmas dinner in the Bisley Suite at Rodney Parade. Tickets are £20 each and feature a hot Christmas dinner and an afternoon of entertainment. Please contact the club to book!
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Nick Thomas
Final Score – Newport RFC 62 RGC 1404 7