Swansea RFC v Newport RFC – 21st September 2024 by John Evans
Round 2 of Super Rygbi Cymru saw the Black & Ambers visit the legendary home of Swansea RFC, St. Helens. Following the patient, hard-earned win against Bridgend, it was a different challenge as the club take on a well-coached and seemingly rejuvenated Whites.
Newport would have to make do without the services of Matt O’Brien, who was otherwise engaged with his day job, but Jac Lloyd and Carwyn Penny are talented players, so there were no concerns about getting the backline moving. Interestingly, Newport had Barney Nightingale lining up at number 13 after having a season out of rugby. Steve Bennett tells me that since his last appearance for Newport, 8 years ago, this was the longest gap between games in modern Newport RFC history.
It was a scene played out almost every year for the last 140-odd, the Black & Amber shirts descending the steps to the pitch followed by the White-shirted home team. The only thing separating 2024 from 1974 was the disappointing lack of crowd on the bank.
Swansea outside half Josh Phillips got the game underway, Dafydd Buckland taking the catch. Jac Lloyd stepped in as 9 before Buckland bounced back to his feet to boot the ball into touch. Flanker Geraint Powell took the lineout ball, before hooker Owen Thomas rumbled the ball forward but Newport wrapped that attack up efficiently and earned an escaping penalty. Carwyn Penny kicked for touch before Ben Roach took the lineout ball. Wade Langley burst forward before Carwyn Penny attacked the line at pace. He found Josh Reid racing along in support and strode on. Joe Peard added his weight to the attack before Carwyn Penny punctured the Whites’ defensive line, popping to Josh Reid again for the big flanker to dive across the line under the posts. Carwyn Penny added the conversion, so Newport were leading 7-0 with just 2 minutes gone.
Dafydd Buckland’s clearing kick was charged down, but Newport conceded a penalty when a white jersey was subjected to a “Crocodile Roll” to clear him away. Obviously, this is illegal now, so the penalty was no surprise. Swansea kicked to the corner, second row Sam Pailor taking the catch. The rolling maul formed but Newport wouldn’t let it gain momentum and it was successfully shunted towards the touchline.
The Whites were making it difficult for Newport to exit their half of the field, but a fumbled ball by prop Ellis Fackrell gave Elliot Frewen the opportunity to boot the ball long and give Newport a moment to breathe.
Swansea turned an 11th minute scrum, but Ben Roach used that to Newport’s advantage as he broke to the blind side. Dafydd Buckland was on hand to carry the move on before Josh Skinner made himself available. Rynard Landman lurched up to take the ball on, but he was snared. However, it was deemed illegal by referee, Mr Aaron Parry. Carwyn Penny kicked to the corner, but Whites flanker Morgan Morse conceded by challenging for the ball while off his feet. Lineout completed again, Wade Langley offered himself up, Jac Lloyd showed the physical side of his game, while Joe Peard made a thrust, but it all seemed to lack the usual cutting edge that we’ve grown used to from a Newport jersey. Swansea burst out of defence, forcing a Newport error and they were off the hook. That definitely felt like 7 points that went begging.
A high tackle on a Swansea attacker led to another penalty on 17 minutes, Josh Phillips punting to the corner. Rynard Landman got a hand to the ball allowing Dafydd Buckland the opportunity to clear the ball, but, somehow, Swansea managed to keep the ball alive. They worked the ball well, winger Tom Edwards making good ground along his wing before play was switched quickly and it was Morgan Morse who was sprinting along the opposite wing that poised a danger. However, he, too, was effectively halted, but Newport would need to raise their game as the threats became stronger and more frequent.
Newport were pinged for a jersey pull on 21 minutes, Swansea’s Josh Phillips making short work of the kick and getting his team on the scoreboard. It was now Swansea 3 Newport 7.
Swansea went into the lead on 26 minutes when Josh Phillips crossed the line. A Swansea penalty gave them the opportunity to use a shortened lineout. Rynard Landman was partially successful in stopping the manoeuvre, but the Whites recycled the ball and Josh Phillips simply ghosted between two Black & Amber shirted statues. He converted his own try to make the score Swansea 10 Newport 7.
Carwyn Penny’s restart didn’t go the full 10 metres. Following a series of reset scrums, Mr Parry found fault with the visitors. From the centre spot, Josh Phillips lined up a kick at goal that easily could have been another 8 to 10 metres back, such was the strength and accuracy of the attempt. That made the score Swansea 13 Newport 7on 31 minutes and was also a warning to Newport that any penalty conceded within 55 metres of their own line was liable to be punished.
Things got worse on 35 minutes when Newport were hurried into a mistake as Swansea captain Joe Thomas screamed out of defence. Thomas and his centre partner Callum Carson carried hard, while number 8 Luca Giannini caused mayhem. Newport gained a penalty in defence, but the lineout was overthrown. Whites hooker Owen Thomas barrelled forward, Swansea going through phases before a gap appeared on the left and wing Callum Dodd eased through to score. Josh Phillips added the two-pointer to make the score Swansea 20 Newport 7 with 38 minutes played.
Jac Lloyd took over kicking duties as the game restarted and a penalty gave the Black & Ambers a chance to narrow the deficit before half time. A lineout ‘funny’ was easily read by Owen Thomas and Newport trudged back to the changing room looking distinctly second best.
Half Time: Swansea RFC 20 Newport RFC 7
Jac Lloyd restarted with Newport ideally needing to score next if they wanted any chance of winning the match. Thankfully, a Swansea knock-on went some way to assisting with that aim as Carwyn Penny scorched through a gap. Jac Lloyd continues in support with Rynard Landman supporting further, but the big South African found himself isolated. Newport garnered a penalty as Swansea streamed back in defence. The Black & Ambers continued to make hard work of it as Dafydd Buckland sniped blind from the maul, but Barney Nightingale was stripped of the ball on the line. Illegally, however, Mr Parry said. Rynard Landman took the lineout ball, the rolling maul set nicely, and Wade Langley was heaved across for Newport’s second try of the afternoon. Carwyn Penny nailed the conversion to make the score Swansea 20 Newport 14.
Slack work by Swansea allowed Ben Roach to slap loose ball towards Josh Reid. Josh Skinner carried the ball on, but Newport were proving lead-footed on occasion and the Whites were able to regroup and smother.
It just wasn’t working like it should. Ty Morris looked to his bench. He would need players who would make a difference on the field. Kyle Tayler, Ollie Drake and Nick Thomas were the first draft to go on, relieving Josh Reid, Joe Peard, and Nathan Evans of duty on 52 minutes.
A 56th minute penalty conceded by Newport spelled danger, but exceptional work by Josh Skinner saw the big back-rower get amongst the Whites rolling maul, disrupt the juggernaut and help get the ball into touch. Unfortunately, the throw to Ben Roach was disrupted, the ball sailed loose into the hands of hooker Owen Thomas who crashed over for possibly one of the easiest tries he’ll ever score. Josh Phillips scored the conversion to make the score Swansea 27 Newport 14.
Newport needed the Bomb Squad.
Jonny Morris and Luke Crane replace Barney Nightingale and Dafydd Buckland on 59 minutes, and the effect was almost instant. Prop Ieuan Davies was off his feet at a ruck allowing Jac Lloyd to kick Newport into an attacking position. Lineout completed, Newport went through their phases, but there seemed to be Whites hands on the ball at each occasion, slowing it down. Mr Parry had seen enough, picking out second row Sam Pailor as culprit and inviting him to the naughty step for ten minutes and think about what he had done.
Newport opted to scrum, Ben Roach having trouble controlling the ball at the base, but, with another penalty, Newport could reset. This scrum was steadier, but Luke Crane was forced to play the ball. Going through phases again, Carwyn Penny found space to stroll through and dot down behind the posts before converting his own try. The score now was Swansea 27 Newport 21 on 65 minutes as Liam Lloyd replaced Elliot Frewen.
An error by Josh Phillips saw the ball go loose following a good Ioan Davies kick and chase. Newport poured through on it, Jonny Morris, playing like he was 10 years younger, cut through as Ioan Davies looped around him, going close, but Newport gained yet another penalty as Swansea flopped in defence. With Sam Pailor still sat on the sidelines Newport opted to scrum again. When the scrum collapsed, and Mr Parry holding his arm out towards Newport, Carwyn Penny threaded a kick behind the advancing Swansea line and Jac Lloyd won the race to touch down. Carwyn Penny added the conversion to make the score Swansea 27 Newport 28 and Newport’s try-scoring bonus point was in the bag. Game on.
Then, in an act of pathetic fallacy, the sun emerged from behind the clouds, onto Newport backs.
Good work by Jac Lloyd wrapped up a Swansea attack, despite taking a heavy blow to his back that, presuming it was legal, needs to be looked at by lawmakers as it looked hugely dangerous.
Archie Callaghan replaced Tom Workman on 77 minutes as Swansea threw everything at the Black & Ambers. Newport conceded a penalty and Swansea opted to go to the corner. With the shouts from the home supporters encouraging them, Swansea went through the hard work, but a spilled ball from a big forward killed their ambitions. Luke Crane’s clearance was charged down, but Ioan Davies was on the spot to clear the ball and enable Newport to survive the scare.
Kyle Tayler was playing with great enthusiasm, being omnipresent, as he spearheaded the Newport resurgence. Swansea were flagging hugely, and a tip tackle was clumsy rather than vicious. Jac Lloyd nursed Newport along the sidelines. With the lineout completed, Wade Langley emerged from the maul and sprinted clear to score to match-clinching try and seal a personal Man of the match performance. Carwyn Penny kicked the conversion to make the final score Swansea 27 Newport 35 ensuring 5 points for the Black & Ambers and consigning the Whites to an empty-handed defeat, which, to be fair, they didn’t really deserve.
Such was the impact of the substitutes on the game that there was serious discussion about Jonny Morris or Luke Crane being involved in the Man of the Match consideration, and that’s no disrespect intended to the players that they replaced. The energy that the likes of Nick Thomas injected into the forwards was enormous, while Jonny Morris was, quite frankly, outstanding.
Full Time: Swansea RFC 27 Newport RFC 35
Newport RFC are next in action on Thursday evening when they visit the Talbot Athletic Ground to take on the Wizards of Aberavon RFC. This game has been selected for broadcast on S4C’s YouTube platform ‘Clic’. If you can’t make the game, tune in and watch from the comfort of your front room! Aberavon then make a quick return against the Black & Ambers when they visit us at Newport Stadium on Saturday October 5th. Come along and bring your mates!
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Wade Langley
Final Score – Swansea RFC 27 Newport RFC 35