INJURY HIT NEWPORT EASE PAST BRIDGEND

Bridgend RFC v Newport RFC – 25th January 2025 by John Evans

 

This rearranged game, postponed in the wake of Storm Bert, at one point seemed threatened by the appearance of Storm Eowyn, an Atlantic storm that made landfall the day previous. Most of the impact was taken by the north of the British Isles, as it turned out, leaving good conditions for this Super Rygbi Cymru fixture. Bridgend were our first opponents in the Super Rygbi Cymru competition, going down 41-22 at Stade de Newport.

 

After having two weeks without a game, and the squad now largely free of the lurgy that was evident in the lethargic performance at Llandovery, Ty Morris had a refreshed squad to pick from. A debut was being given to Solomone Funaki, playing at 6 on loan from the Dragons, while the rest of the squad had a pleasingly familiar look about it.

 

Josh Skinner led Newport onto the Brewery Field grass, on the occasion of his hundredth game for the Black & Ambers. Kyle Tayler was also set to reach a notable anniversary when he came off the bench later in the game; he would be making his 150th appearance for Newport. Congratulations to both Josh and Kyle on their achievements!

 

Jac Lloyd kicked off, with Newport playing left to right in front of the main stand at the Brewery Field. The Ravens set up a ruck before returning the kick to approximately 30 metres out. Joe Peard caught the lineout ball before Dafydd Buckland moved the ball wide. Chay Foster-Smith barged his way forward before Jac Lloyd cross-kicked to Oli Andrew, stretching the home defence. Ben Roach was on hand to keep the ball alive as it whizzed its way across the field again. Solomone Funaki bowled forward, scorning the pass to Lloyd Lewis, taking contact instead. Lewis, bright of thought, zipped in to act as scrum half, found prop Liam Tobias in front of him, jinked, and strode in for an early try. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Bridgend 0 Newport 7 with 2 minutes on the clock.

 

Kyle Harris, the Bridgend 8, fed a ball from the base of a 5th minute scrum, enabling outside half Luke Price to make a beautiful pass to fullback Edd Howley, joining the line at speed. Howley kicked ahead, but it was the Black & Ambers first to the ball.

 

A period of kick-tennis ensued, Edd Howley kicking, finally, in the direction of Lloyd Lewis. Now, the winger doesn’t ‘do’ kicking, so he naturally looked to run out of defence. Unfortunately, he was snagged, although home flanker Ioan Pascoe was pinged for going off his feet at the ruck. However, all was not well as Lewis remained on the floor, evidently in some distress, attracting the attention of both sets of medical teams. The game was delayed while running repairs took place, culminating in Lloyd being taken from the field on a stretcher with a horrific-looking leg wound. Iestyn Galton would replace him on the wing.

 

Bridgend were penalised for blocking on 14 minutes, Jac Lloyd kicking Newport to about 23 metres out on the stand side. Joe Peard provided clean ball for Dafydd Buckland to pop the ball out to Solomone Funaki, who slipped a tackle to get close to the line. Henry Palmer went closer, being held up over the line. The referee, Mr Lucas Yendle, was displeased with Bridgend in defence, taking a moment to consider before inviting scrum half Harvey Nash to the naughty step for ten minutes. Newport took the tap penalty, Ben Roach trucking the ball up, before wriggling and turning and touching the ball down close to the left-hand post pad. Jac Lloyd added the conversion, making it Bridgend 0 Newport 14 with 17 minutes played as the local supporters around me appeared to settle in for a long afternoon.

 

Bridgend were making thrusts at the Newport line, but with no real conviction as they put boot to ball, looking for a way through the defence, wing Jake Thomas being the culprit on more than one occasion. They has a 20th minute penalty, going to the corner. Kyle Harris caught the funny lineout but met a wall of Black & Amber. The Ravens moved the ball across the line but found stern opposition and were ultimately tackled into touch. Unfortunately, wing Oli Andrew suffered a blow to the head in defending and was withdrawn for his own safety. Carwyn Penny would replace him, moving to full back so that Ioan Davies could cover the wing position.

 

Newport were offside on 23 minutes. Bridgend opting for the corner again. Alfie Llewellyn jumped front, but the Black & Amber pack weren’t playing games today, wrapping the maul up and claiming the turnover.

 

The Black & Ambers appeared to be haemorrhaging penalties, but the Ravens persisted in kicking to the corner, despite a zero return on all their efforts thus far. Bridgend threw to the tail of the lineout, but Josh Reid and Nathan Evans were standouts in defence, teeth gritted as they downed blue shirt after blue shirt.

 

Harvey Nash rejoined the fray as Newport gave a demonstration of defensive discipline. Nathan Evans, however, appeared to overstep the mark in his efforts to get across the downed ball carrier. Mr Yendle showed him a yellow card, Garin Harris taking his place in the front row, while Solomone Funaki stood down for ten minutes. Bridgend opted for the scrum option at the penalty, hoping for a different outcome. They were pedestrian moving the ball wide, giving Newport an easy time of defending. Another penalty as Newport strayed offside again, but the front row of Workman, Palmer, and Harris, worked their magic, as Bridgend prop Harry Olding (no relation to our Tyler, we understand) was penalised for not driving straight.

 

It became complicated for Newport on 38 minutes. With Nathan Evans off the field, Josh Reid was spotted blocking the run of a Ravens attacker; an easy yellow card for Mr Yendle to give. With 13 players on the field, Bridgend must have fancied their chances at scoring. Going to the corner again, it was Ben Roach who correctly guessed the lineout call and came away with the ball. Then came a puzzling moment, as Jac Lloyd took the ball, pivoted, and kicked it dead; did he believe it was halftime? Bridgend were awarded the attacking scrum, five metres out as Nathan Evans and Solomone Funaki rejoined the action. The Bridgend scrum was firm as centre Tommy Morgan blasted through on the perfect line to score. Luke Price added the conversion to make it Bridgend 7 Newport 14 on 40+1 minutes.

 

There was time to restart. Newport went on the attack, Jac Lloyd pinning the Ravens back, forcing a goal line dropout. The Ravens infringed, prompting Jac Lloyd to place his forwards just metres from the line. Ben Roach caught the lineout throw, setting the maul. The human mass paused for a few seconds, choosing its path, before it rumbled forward. Dai Richards was released for a launch at the line before Nathan Evans was held up over the line. Chay Foster-Smith packed down at openside, ensuring Nathan Evans had all the support he needed for the scrummage, as Ben Roach picked up form the base of the scrum and went it alone. He made it, too, but was held up, before being penalised for not releasing, much to the Captain’s obvious consternation, and time ran out on the first half.

 

Half Time:  Bridgend RFC 7 Newport RFC 14

 

Newport were still missing Josh Reid as Luke Price restarted the game. Tommy Morgan was penalised early on for no release in the tackle, allowing Newport an early entry into the Bridgend half.

 

Bridgend put pace into their attack, for once, Edd Howley proving difficult to nail. A good tip pass by Tommy Morgan kept the move going, releasing wing Mccauley Rowley. The winger kicked ahead, Dafydd Buckland being first on the spot, but he tumbled awkwardly in securing the ball. Newport kicked the ball clear, but with Solomone Funaki on the deck, as well as Buckland, the injuries were beginning to mount for the Black & Ambers. Dafydd Buckland left the field clutching his shoulder, while Solomone Funaki had his shirt turned into a makeshift sling to support his right arm. Thankfully, Newport were blessed with quality on the bench in Luke Crane and Kyle Tayler.

 

Bridgend seemed to be gaining the upper hand; they were brighter, while Newport seemed to be clinging to the life raft at times.

 

Tom Workman, Nathan Evans, and Joe Peard made way for Harry Fry, Garin Harris, and Max Williams on 54 minutes.

 

A 59th minute cross-kick by Luke Price appeared to be well covered by Carwyn Penny, but Bridgend’s Gabe Lacey lurked unseen. He stole in to snatch the ball, sprinting to the line before passing infield to Harvey Nash to score. The fact that he didn’t drew gasps from the Bridgend crowd and was testament to the defensive determination displayed by the Newport collective. Bridgend then laid siege to the Newport line for 4 full minutes, over 240 seconds, of bang, crash, and wallop, which yielded them absolutely nothing. One young Raven behind me muttered “It’s like they’re actively trying not to score!” The Black & Amber Wall was huge, and the Ravens wouldn’t find a way through it like that. They needed to think harder.

 

Tyler Olding came on for Henry Palmer on 63 minutes, just as Newport were pinged offside again. Bridgend selected a scrum but, even though Tommy Morgan spilled the ball, Mr Yendle found another penalty to give. Luke Price went to the corner. This time, the strongarm approach worked as the rolling maul barrelled over the line and Corey Lewis was awarded the score. Lloyd Wilkins kicked the conversion to tie the scores at 14 points apiece with 66 minutes played.

 

Carwyn Penny caught Edd Howley’s attempted grubber on the full before haring his way along the wing before kicking ahead himself as the cover closed in, but Newport had become ponderous in attack, and the Bridgend supporters in the stand began to believe.

 

Corey Lewis pulled at Luke Crane’s arm at the base of a ruck to ship a penalty and allow Newport to kick to the corner, but the Black & Ambers were as blunt in attack as they were ferocious in defence; Luke Crane found himself swamped and Bridgend could exit easily.

 

Bodies were tiring as the clock ticked past 76 minutes, and the game opened right up. Josh Skinner made a pass to Jac Lloyd who changed direction, finding Carwyn Penny on his left. He launched Ioan Davies for a head-back sprint, but he was tackled into touch.

 

Kyle Tayler did his thing on 78 minutes, ghosting the ball away from the ruck and into Newport hands. The Black & Ambers went left quickly with the surprise figure of Josh Skinner the last man in the move, but he was tackled, Bridgend clearing to their 22. Max Williams took the lineout catch, but the ball was spilled in the phases. “I’ll tell you what’ll happen now”, said the Bridgend supporter to my right, “you’ll get a scrum penalty, kick it, and win 17-14”.

 

Guess what? I should have asked him for the lottery numbers.

 

With Jac Lloyd’s penalty coming on 80 minutes dead, Newport simply had to hold on. Bridgend huffed and puffed, but with no real threat coming, it was simply a case of containing the blue and white shirts. Newport won an 86th minute scrum penalty and that was that.

 

Full Time: Bridgend RFC 14 Newport RFC 17

 

The afternoon seemed to be an expensive one for both teams, as injuries littered the game, some seeming quite serious. This was an occasion where the medical teams may have been the real stars of the show, such was their attention and care of the players. Newport RFC are grateful for the assistance provided by the Bridgend Ravens medics in their help of our fantastic medical team.

 

Newport RFC are next in action on Saturday, February 1st, when we travel to Swansea in a Super Rygbi Cymru Cup game. We’re on the road again on Friday February 7th, when the Black & Ambers visit Aberavon to replay the fixture that was abandoned in torrential rain on September 26th last year. Newport are finally back at home, at Newport Stadium, on Saturday February 15th, when Carmarthen Quins visit us once more, this time in the Cup competition.

 

Onwards and upwards Newport.

 

Your City. Your Colours. Your Club

 

#cotp

 

Newport RFC Man of the Match; Ben Roach

 

Final Score – Bridgend RFC 14 Newport RFC 17