Newport v Pontypool Sunday 30th March 2025 at Rodney Parade. Report by Steve Bennett
On a wonderful spring afternoon made for running rugby Newport faced their local rivals Pontypool. The French national team were famed for playing some delightful running rugby in the spring sunshine at the old Parc des Prince. The weather was made for such rugby, and all hope was that both sides would oblige. Newport went into this game five points ahead of the visitors in the S.R.C. so all was to play for. The pitch looked immaculate bathed in sunshine, considering only twenty-four hours previously Newport County had hosted Notts County on the same pitch on the last Saturday of March it looked more like August.
This was the second encounter with Pontypool in the last sixteen days and Pontypool made four changes from the team that played at Newport Stadium. Newport made two changes Lewis David replacing Max Williams and Kyle Tayler for Rhys Jenkins. Pontypool were looking for their first win in Newport for twenty years.
Jac Lloyd kicked off attacking the School, Morgan Lloyd received the ball but failed to find touch and Carwyn Penny gathered and attacked in front of the Bisley stand he gave to Elliott Frewen who kicked into the visitors in goal but Che Hope was beaten to the touch down, a promising start for Newport but as we shall see Pontypool were to take control of matters.
After only four minutes on the clock Jac Lloyd attempted a 50/22 but it was over hit and went dead, this sorry to say was an indicator of Newport’s first forty minutes.
The game was being played in midfield with both sides trying to spread the ball, but their efforts were hampered by poor handling. Newport’s scrum was struggling and a quick succession of penalties from home scrummages put Newport under pressure.
On only ten minutes Newport tried to spread the ball along the line just in front of their own 22 but the ball was intercepted by Pontypool scrum half Morgan Lloyd who raced down the pitch without a defender’s hand being placed on him, Keiron Meek converted to open the score for the visitors.
Newport 0-7 Pontypool
The Pontypool forwards were now the dominant force, turning over Newport ball in the tackle area at will and showing greater physicality. A period of Pontypool pressure was thankfully relieved for Newport by a dropped pass. Finally, something had to give and a round of passing by the visitors back line on 16 minutes saw wing Marcus Jones score a try which Kieran Meek convert.
Newport 0-14 Pontypool
On 18 minutes the pressure was really on the home team as Pontypool were dominating possession and putting a lot of pressure on the home. Only three minutes later the visitors were to score the try of the game, a great passing move saw wing Ewan Rosser race down the touch line from halfway on the Bisley stand side and score in the corner. Three Newport defenders missed their tackles, but the try was deserved, Kieron Meek converted again.
Newport 0-21 Pontypool
Newport was well and truly on the rack now and a stunned home crowd feared the worst, but the players picked themselves up and only four minutes later after pressure on the visitor’s line Oli Andrew opened the scoring and Jac Lloyd converted.
Newport 7-21 Pontypool
What seemed a glimmer of hope by Oli Andrew was turned into yet another period of intense possession by the visitors. Yet again the Pontypool back row turned over Newport possession and Newport had to start protecting their own possession.
Newport’s scrum was still being penalised. It took until the 35th minute when Newport gained a penalty goal from a scrum that outside half Jac Lloyd kicked for the corner, and now Newport was on the front foot and finally on 38 minutes captain Ben Roach scored after concerted Newport pressure on the visitor’s line. Jac Lloyd converted.
Newport 14-21 Pontypool
After the earlier Pontypool barrage, it seemed that Newport ware now back in the game, but with only a minute to go until half time Keiron Meek kicked a 40-metre penalty goal, to give the visitors a ten-point lead going into the break.
Half time Newport 14-24 Pontypool
On resumption of play it seemed that Newport had a chance now to overturn the deficit, but the visitors had other ideas and in the first minute of the half they scored a fine try by centre Pat Lewis, another move along the line saw him going over near the changing room entrance. The Newport players seemed to be still in the changing rooms. What seemed like a glint of hope coming out for the second half was quickly snuffed out.
Newport 14-29 Pontypool
With all seemed lost the game and became more heated and Pontypool were piling on more pressure. In the 51st minute Kieron Meek kicked a dropped goal to lead.
Newport 14-32 Pontypool
At this point of the game everything seemed to be lost and minds were turned to saving any points and rescuing something from the loss, Nobody told the Newport players about this as it took only 2 minutes for the home side to rally and take the game to Pontypool for the first time in the game Pontypool’s defence was in disarray and Che Hope capitalised and scored which Jac Lloyd added the extra two points.
Newport 21-32 Pontypool
Only four minutes later Ben Roach made a magnificent run down the middle of the pitch which took the play deep into the visitor’s half, from concerted pressure Oli Andrew scored a try which Jac Lloyd converted.
Newport 28-32 Pontypool
Now Newport were looking like the certain winners of this game they had the momentum they were upping the intensity of the game, but on 60 minutes Pontypool had other ideas when Kieron Meek converted another penalty goal.
Newport 28-35 Pontypool
On 68 minutes a quick tapped penalty by Che Hope in Pontypool’s half saw Newport using the numbers for Ioan Davies to cross in the corner, Jac Lloyd converted. Sadly this was Ioan’s last involvement in the game and we wish him a speedy recovery.
Newport 35-35 Pontypool
No-one would complain if the score had finished in a draw, but with ten minutes remaining outside half Jac Lloyd converted a penalty goal to see Newport winning by a crucial three points.
Newport 38-35 Pontypool
Although the winning points were ten minutes from time, Newport comfortably held onto that narrow margin.
This game was one of the most entertaining games played in many a year, the phrase ‘a game of two halves’ could never be truer, in the first half Pontypool held all the cards they were more physical and aggressive, and Newport looked like they had no answer to it but as we were getting deeper into the second half the game opened up and Newport playing with more intensity started to get the upper hand, although Pontypool were playing into Newport’s hands by kicking straight down field into the waiting hands of Newport’s counter attacking back line. In the first half Pontypool’s kicking game was cleverer with them kicking into space between the front defence and the back line.
What turned out to be a fine win for the home side, which for most of the game seemed unlikely was down to the incredible resilience and confidence which the Newport players had in themselves. It would have been easier for heads to drop at the start of the second half when Pontypool came out and grabbed an easy seven points at the resumption of play.
All credit for this match goes to the players and coaching staff of both clubs. Pontypool showed today that they can play an expansive game as good as any other club. Gone are the days of nine-man rugby.
Newport’s next game is against R.G.C. at Colwyn Bay on Saturday and the next home game is against Ebbw Vale at Rodney Parade on Sunday 13th April 2025.