Newport RFC v Pontypool RFC 29th January 2026 by John Evans
Newport RFC progressed to stage 2 of the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup following their win at Carmarthen Quins last Saturday. It should be mentioned that Quins suffered some wretched luck with both of their nominated hookers being injured in the first, but that doesn’t detract from a dominant second half display at Carmarthen Park. Pontypool were the next opponents, and they made the short journey to Newport in their numbers to support their team that has been bumping along the lower reaches of the table all season. New coach Dale McIntosh would surely be making a difference so it would be interesting to see their progression since their 27-17 loss to the Black & Ambers at Pontypool Park in November.
Ty Morris changed the team around again, making it look a lot more familiar; the 5:3 split of forwards to backs on the bench became 6:2 when Lloyd Lewis was withdrawn at short notice, Morgan Burgess taking the vacant slot in reserve.
It was a horrid evening, the sort of weather you wouldn’t send a dog out in, yet, here we all were, in strong, chill winds, and lashing rain, hoping for a rugby spectacle between two fierce rivals. I can report now – we didn’t get one.
Jac Lloyd started the game, kicking toward the Cricket Club end. A catch, drive and a kick back to halfway before the wind carried the lineout ball wide set the tone for the evening. From the scrum, Pontypool tried to move the ball, but Lucas Welch made a timely intervention to gather possession. Newport tried to build momentum until Jac Lloyd put in an excellent kick to the corner. Pontypool dealt with the elements well and cleared, but Newport countered. Morgan Williams strode forward in attack but was downed short of the line.
Pontypool looked ‘up’ for the challenge, wing Ioan Duggan having a dart along his wing before being tackled and losing the ball.
Carwyn Penny kicked to the corners but, again, Duggan did well to gather and run out of defence, but his ball retention let him down once again.
Pontypool were awarded an 11th minute free kick at a scrum. Outside half Harri Ford lofted the ball high, letting the swirling wind play tricks on the Newport defence. And it ultimately paid off. Joe Westwood was caught out, Pooler hooker Sam Scarfe latched onto the ball, popping it out to Morgan Allen, their number 8, before Ford placed a grubber kick into the corner. It was dealt with by Newport, but gave the visitors an attacking scrum, 5-metres out. A move from the back of the scrum and scrum-half Morgan Lloyd sniped across to open the scoring. Harri Ford missed the conversion, so the score was Newport 0 Pontypool 5.
Newport tried to respond, building pressure as Morgan Williams chose a good angle to attack from. However, Pontypool flanker Ryan Jones somehow managed to steal the ball from the winger’s grasp and set off for the Newport line. Wing Carrick McDonough ran in support, but this only tempted Newport to infringe at the breakdown. Playing with an advantage, Morgan Lloyd played a flat kick to the corner, but Carwyn Penny dealt with it easily. Coming back for the penalty and flanker Dan Hill, formerly, briefly, of this parish chose the worst possible option of going quickly and was easily held up and Newport were off the hook.
Newport built again, bursting forward in attack. Joe Westwood barged a path through, passing to Fin Baker, but he lost his footing as he tried to cut inside at a critical moment. However, Pooler had strayed offside. Jac Lloyd went to the corner and, keeping it tight at the lineout, Henry Palmer was at the tail of the 10-man driving maul to touch down for Newport. Jac Lloyd kicked the conversion to make it Newport 7 Pontypool 5 with 25 minutes played.
Unfortunately, Fin Baker’s resulting injury saw him play no further part in the evening and he was replaced by Noah Morgan.
Carwyn Penny carried the ball into contact, but the Pooler forwards retrieved the ball illegally. From the ensuing lineout, Newport carried hard; Callum Bradbury has recently shown a huge appetite for this kind of work, while Josh Skinner has always had it. Hunter Ward carried on the momentum, but a subsequent carrier was isolated by Pontypool and Newport yielded a penalty.
The Newport front row scored a major win as they heaved their opposite numbers backwards on 33 minutes, gaining a penalty which Jac Lloyd punted to the corner, but the Pooler second rows managed to get a hand to the ball and spoil possession and kicked the ball clear. The resulting lineout was messy, and Newport were being pushed backwards. Hunter Ward tried to salvage the situation, but his support went off their feet at the tackle. Harri Ford gestured at the posts to kick Pontypool back into the lead, making the score Newport 7 Pontypool 8 on 35 minutes.
Carwyn Penny was the latest injury-hit Newport player, being helped off by Jess and Emily, part of our club’s amazing medical team. Dafydd Buckland replaced him, going to the wing while Morgan Williams moved across to fullback.
Newport resumed the graft of trying to get past Pontypool, Hunter Ward doing exceptionally well to fend off tacklers and get the ball away. Pontypool were determined in defence, but the Black & Ambers sought to impose a stranglehold on the visitors. They infringed, allowing Jac Lloyd to kick to the corner again. Josh Skinner took the lineout ball and drove on, but Pontypool resisted. Hooker Sam Scarfe was noted for not releasing in a tackle and soon received his invitation to ten minutes on the naughty step by the referee, Mr Lucas Yendle. Jac Lloyd went to the corner once more, and, from the driving maul, it was Henry Palmer who claimed his second try to put Newport ahead going into halftime. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Newport 14 Pontypool 8 as both sides headed for the changing rooms knowing that there was still plenty of work to be done.
Half Time: Newport RFC 14 Pontypool RFC 8
Harri Ford restarted for Pontypool, but the ball failed to clear the requisite 10 metres. A mighty shove by the Newport eight had Pooler skating backwards, earning a penalty as they went.
Pontypool recovered from that early setback and gathered some good ball, driving hard at Newport. A Black & Amber defender strayed offside, so Pontypool played on with an advantage. But, with none coming, they were brought back for the original offence, Harri Ford motioning at the sticks making the score Newport 14 Pontypool 11 on 49 minutes.
Jac Lloyd’s restart was fumbled badly, cannoning off a chest putting Newport in a decent position. When the scrum folded quickly, Mr Yendle had little hesitation in singling out Pontypool prop Dylan Kelleher- Griffiths as being at fault and invited him, too, to take ten minutes out. Jac Lloyd kicked the penalty to the corner, Callum Bradbury taking the catch before a series of drives at the Pooler line. Callum Bradbury was putting himself about, Hunter Ward drove close, but the ball squirted loose and Pontypool could partially clear. Newport tried to rebuild but to no avail and Jac Lloyd’s kick was well covered.
Luke Yendle, not to be confused with the referee, Mr Lucas Yendle and no relation as far as we can gather, replaced Garin Harris on 53 minutes, while Tiehi Chatham came on for Ioan Rhys Davies.
The one moment of real quality in a game that otherwise was a fantastic advert for summer rugby was Joe Westwood’s 56th minute try. The Black & Ambers kept the ball alive with some intricate handling before spreading infield, a perfectly timed run by the big centre, and an excellently weighted pass by Jac Lloyd, put the big man clear to stride in near the posts. Jac Lloyd’s kick added the extra two points to make it Newport 21 Pontypool 11.
Luck was against Newport when they tried to clear the ball from a ruck inside their 22; Lucas Welch’s pass back was dropped and Pontypool found themselves with the gift of an attacking scrum, 5-metres out. A big drive from Morgan Allen and the number 8 barged over under the crossbar to score. Harri Ford added the conversion to make it Newport 21 Pontypool 18 on 59 minutes.
A smart restart by Jac Lloyd, spotting that the visitors had left their right-hand corner of the pitch completely unmarked, put Newport back on the attack. Josh Skinner nicked the lineout, Henry Palmer drove on, Tiehi Chatham edged further, but the call that Lucas Welch knocked on in the act of picking the ball up seemed harsh.
The game began to bog down in the cold and the rain, until Pontypool found some more vigour to attack with. Prop Kelvyn Williams carried hard at the Newport defence, fullback Ewan Rosser went very close as Newport hung on by their fingernails. Eventually, Mr Yendle couldn’t warn Newport anymore and it was prop Tom Devine who went to the bin. Given the deteriorating conditions, Harri Ford was wise to nominate the penalty kick to equalise the scores at 21 points apiece on 71 minutes.
Tom Workman replaced Lucas Welch on 73 minutes in order to get a prop on the field, Dafydd Buckland moving infield off his wing to his preferred position of scrumhalf.
Mistakes abounded as bodies tired and conditions dominated. Pontypool had the chance to go ahead on 75 minutes when a scrum collapsed. Harri Ford’s kick hit the right-hand post, falling into the hands of Ben Roach. Callum Bradbury offered himself in support as the Black & Ambers looked for position. Pooler flanker Dan Hill certainly helped as he, too, strayed offside. Jac Lloyd kicked to the corner and Pontypool knocked on in defence. A scrum 15-metres out seemed the perfect platform for a Jac Lloyd drop-goal attempt, but Newport were sluggish in attack, and the visitors could spoil the ball.
Kobi Rees came on in stoppage time for Tom Devine, but the game was coagulating in the middle of the field. Newport were having the better of the possession, but the Pontypool defence was alert and alive, managing to isolate ball-carriers. A final sprint by Morgan Williams during the eighth minute of stoppage time saw the ball get spilled in the tackle and the game ended with honours even.
Full Time: Newport RFC 21 Pontypool RFC 21
The Black & Ambers are next in action on Saturday 7th February when they make the short journey down the A48 to meet the Blue & Blacks of Cardiff RFC. This game kicks off at 2pm to enable supporters to settle into their clubhouse and watch the England v Wales Six Nations fixture at 4.45pm. Following that, Newport RFC are back home, at Newport Stadium, on February 14th when RGC visit us for the second time this season. Kick-off is at 2.30pm. Both these fixtures complete the pool stage of the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup competition.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Final Score – Newport RFC 21 Pontypool RFC 21
Seren y Gem – Joe Westwood