After a stunning victory over Llandovery, the Black & Ambers travel the short distance to Pontypool to face a team that is having a mixed season.  They are seventh in the league table with two wins and four losses. Of course, form means nothing when Poola plays Newport and we can expect a tough battle as always.

The Newport coaching team will have some difficult decisions regarding team selection following the outstanding performance last Saturday of the starting fifteen and the replacements. But with injuries and unavailability to be considered some decisions might be made for them.

Newport: Tom Devine, Wade Langley, Ollie Drake, Cerrig Smith, Callum Bradbury, Hunter Ward, Kyle Tayler-Woolston, Ben Roach, Dafydd Buckland, A.N.Other, Noah Morgan, Chay Foster-Smith, Brogan Leary, Fin Baker, Sam Morgan.

Replacements: Ed Thompson, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Joe Peard, Gethyn Cannon, Josh Reid, Lucus Welch, Joe Salter.

Referee:  Gareth Newman

AR1:  Mathew Leon

AR2:  Spencer Clease

SLM:  Lee Parry

Kick-off:  2:30 PM

Venue: Pontypool Park

We extend our most heartfelt condolences to Jack’s family and loved ones, everyone associated with both clubs, his friends, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him during this incredibly difficult time.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic loss.

From all at Newport RFC

This week’s numbers were: 5, 6, 9 & 20.

You can buy a ticket for just £1 from the Red Lion on Stow Hill and also the Handpost on Risca Road, as well as on match days from our volunteers.

Our next SRC league fixture is away to Pontypool at Pontypool Park this Saturday, 24th October. Kick off is at 14:30.

Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for your support.

Good luck!

1st Kevin Beechey £300
2nd Michael Jones £75
3rd Alan Cording £25

Congratulations to you all!

There would have been time for reflection following the rout handed out in North Wales in the previous game. The heaviest defeat since our annihilation at Newcastle in December 2013 would surely merit a reaction, certainly if the club had any ambition to win silverware this season. The Black & Ambers have already beaten the Drovers up at Church Bank, but they have hit a run of form themselves, winning three matches on the bounce. They would arrive at Newport Stadium preparing to have a jolly good go at taking the Challenger Shield back up the A470 with them.

Carwyn Penny was available to start at fullback, while the pack had a settled look about it, save the absence of Josh Skinner; Nick Thomas started while Joe Peard was on the bench. There was also a first league outing for Kyle Tayler-Woolston this season, making a mark off the bench later in the game.

With Cardiff RFC failing to gather any points in their televised loss at Swansea RFC on Thursday evening, it was an excellent opportunity to have a new leader at the top of the Super Rygbi Cymru ladder. Ebbw Vale hosted Aberavon, so a mighty score would put them in contention, but Newport had an equally good shot at knocking Cardiff into second.

There was a late change to the Newport line-up; Joe Westwood was sidelined through illness, so Matt O’Brien was called up to deputise.

It was a bright and dry afternoon and Will Ford kicked off, Newport attacking the Cricket Club end of Newport Stadium. Llandovery wing Corey Baldwin caught the ball and began to play, the Drovers looking to move the ball. Hooker Cam Lewis set up a ruck for the visitors before scrumhalf Lucca Setaro found touch. Will Ford took the lineout quickly for his captain, Ben Roach, to carry the ball into contact and garner a penalty for the Black & Ambers. Will Ford punted Newport up to the visitors’ 22. Ben Roach took the lineout catch before Josh Reid looped around the open side with acres of space and made the simplest of passes to Hunter Ward who gathered the ball and crossed the line. That made the score Newport 5 Llandovery 0 with 2 minutes played.

Newport continued to press, skilful hands opening up the Llandovery defence, but a pass out to Josh Reid was fierce and simply cannoned off the back-rowers chest.

Llandovery got onto equal terms on 10 minutes with a try by Lucca Setaro. Carwyn Penny had done very well to retain possession for Newport and make space for Matt O’Brien to kick clear. However, an unfortunate bounce of the ball favoured the red & whites. They didn’t need a second invitation to run at Newport before an excellently weighted grubber kick rolled over the try line, the scrum half being first to the rolling ball. The conversion was missed making the score Newport 5 Llandovery 5.

Sam Morgan did well to get hands to the restart kick but was judged to have knocked on in the process. A massive Newport scrum heaved their opponents off their own ball and earned a penalty. Will Ford went to the corner, Ben Roach provided from the lineout while Wade Langley, ball clamped to his chest, looked for the opportunity to pounce. Dafydd Buckland dictated play, demanding the ball and sniping, being held up. Wade Langley was millimetres behind and carried the charge on. The ball went wide, but the final pass to Fin Baker was noted to have been forward. Thankfully, Newport had an advantage coming. Seeing their scrum dominance minutes earlier, it was no surprise that Ben Roach nominated to scrummage. Dafydd Buckland whipped the ball out to Matt O’Brien who passed onward to Chay Foster-Smith, whose arcing run took him around the defence. Will Ford added the conversion to make the score Newport 12 Llandovery 5 with 15 minutes played.

Llandovery built a decent response, laying an attacking platform, but it was all undone by a knock-on by flanker Tiaan Sparrow.

Newport extended their lead further on 19 minutes through a try by Nick Thomas. Ethan Phillips read the play well, intercepting a Llandovery pass and launching an attack. The Black & Ambers went wide quickly, trademark fast hands from Matt O’Brien putting Fin Baker into space and up into the visitors 22. Ed Thompson was available to go hard at the line, but the big prop finished the job off, scrambling across the line under pressure. Will Ford added the two-pointer to make it Newport 19 Llandovery 5.

Chay Foster-Smith bagged his second try, and Newport’s try-scoring bonus point, on 24 minutes. Carwyn Penny declined the easy option, choosing to run and leave three defenders for dead. Dafydd Buckland took a pass at top speed getting Newport up to the 22. The Black & Ambers recycled the ball quickly and another display of quick hands from Matt O’Brien put the centre in at the corner. Will Ford nailed his kick making the score Newport 24 Llandovery 5.

Newport were looking in imperious form; Carwyn Penny was making things happen from 15, Matt O’Brien was flipping balls left and right before booming a pass out to Ben Roach, lurking on the wing. He tried to release Sam Morgan, but a desperate covering defender knocked the ball backwards and into touch.

The casual observer was about to witness six minutes of open, end-to-end rugby; Newport supporters, however, were about to be exposed to six minutes of anxiety. Carwyn Penny set the ball rolling, metaphorically, with a determined carry, but some clumsiness at the ruck saw the Drovers come away with the ball. The Black & Ambers regained possession, and Fin Baker was released to streak along his wing. However, he ran out of support quickly and cut infield. Unfortunately, his pass was picked off. Llandovery progressed upfield, purposefully at first, but becoming more ponderous as they approached the Newport try-line. With an advantage coming, they seemed to run out of ideas and plumped for the penalty. Even then, with that platform, the throw-in was too long, Hunter Ward scooped the ball up and Will Ford kicked clear. Newport set about trying to extend their lead, but as the Black & Ambers were appealing for a penalty, Sam Morgan got on with it. His mazy run got to within metres of the line. Newport battered the defence, but a final pass out to Ben Roach was at shin height and left the captain with little chance of collecting the ball. Llandovery had been spotted offside, however. Matt O’Brien went quickly, being downed short of the line. A few lunges, and suddenly, the ball was loose. Will Ford and Chay Foster-Smith were on the back foot, trying to secure the ball. Llandovery’s Corey Baldwin was chief disruptor, regaining the ball and moving it wide. The Black & Ambers were overstretched and wing Llien Morgan simply had to pick his line and switch the afterburners on to sprint clear to the line. Ioan Hughes added the conversion meaning that both teams ran down the tunnel with the scoreboard reading Newport 24 Llandovery 12.

Half Time:  Newport RFC 24 Llandovery RFC 12

Ioan Hughes restarted the game, but it was Newport who were next to bother the scoreboard operator. Dafydd Buckland quickly took a freekick. Matt O’Brien made space for Fin Baker to dash forward before being downed in the 22. Nick Thomas made ground with a purposeful surge, but a penalty was coming. Will Ford went to the corner; the lineout was completed and Wade Langley made for the line. The ball was whizzed out to Hunter Ward who crashed through to score. Will Ford kicked the conversion to make it Newport 31 Llandovery 12 with 45 minutes played.

Ty Morris made changes at this point changing the front row from Ed Thompson, Wade Langley, and Ollie Drake to Tom Devine, Henry Palmer, and Garin Harris. Also, Noah Morgan, back from injury, replaced Fin Baker on the wing.

Newport yielded at 47^th minute penalty for not releasing in the tackle, Llandovery kicking to 15-metres out on the stand side. The Drovers patiently worked their way forward, Lucca Setaro recycling the ball well. Number 8 Dom Kossuth barged through and came within a few metres of the line, but Setaro was available to boss the play and pick his runners. He found the combination of prop Tom Phillips and flanker Dan Gemine to his left, looped the ball their way and it was Gemine who crossed. Ioan Hughes kicked the conversion to make it Newport 31 Llandovery 19 with 51 minutes played.

Josh Reid’s afternoon was over as Kyle Tayler-Woolston took over the openside role. Typically, he proved himself to be the Jackal King by doing just that within seconds of being on the field and earning a penalty. Will Ford kicked for touch. Lineout completed, a fantastic maul marched the Drovers back metres, into their own 22. Henry Palmer, ball tucked under his arm, looked up, but Dafydd Buckland had other ideas. He picked his moment before moving the ball out. Noah Morgan kept the move alive, dancing back infield to seek support. Newport continued to press until Matt O’Brien’s simple pass to Chay Foster-Smith to barrel through a half-gap and touch down. Will Ford sealed Foster-Smith’s hat-trick of tries with a neatly taken kick making it Newport 38 Llandovery 19 with 56 minutes gone.

Nick Thomas made way for Joe Peard at this juncture.

Llandovery attacked, but it was well marshalled by the Black & Ambers. Hunter Ward intervened, winning the ball back allowing Matt O’Brien to kick long. Llandovery contrived to overthrow the lineout, Henry Palmer gathering the loose ball and setting the wheels in motion. Newport worked hard but were unfortunate to be called back when the last pass to Dafydd Buckland was adjudged to have been forward.

Noah Morgan played from deep, encouraging Chay Foster-Smith to run with him. The cover defence closed in around Chay Foster-Smith prompting him to kick, and what a kick it became. Looking vaguely agricultural, it bounced a few metres short of the line and into touch nearer again, near the corner flag. Newport infringed at the lineout, but the clearing penalty was poor from Llandovery, compounded by a line out not straight error. A Newport scrum on the 22 followed, a mighty heave earning a penalty. Will Ford pinned Llandovery right into the corner, Joe Peard claimed the lineout and set the maul. Another mighty heave, backs joining in, before the mass of Black & Amber heaved over the line. A grinning Henry Palmer was last off the floor receiving the congratulations of his team-mates. Will Ford added the conversion to make it Newport 43 Llandovery 19 with 64 minutes played. Dafydd Buckland took his bow as he made was for Lucas Welsh. Joe Salter relieved Carwyn Penny of duty at the same time, filling in on the wing as Sam Morgan moved to fullback.

Sam Morgan exploited his positional change with a splendid carving run through the Llandovery backfield. Despite warnings from referee Mr Carwyn Sion, Drovers centre Tom Hughes was impatient and stepped across the tackled player and coughed up a simple penalty in front of the posts. Will Ford kicked to the corner again. Once more, Joe Peard caught the lineout ball, set up the maul and, once again, Henry Palmer got himself on the scoresheet. Will Ford added the two points to make it Newport 50 Llandovery 19 on 73 minutes.

Llandovery went close to claiming their try-scoring bonus point on 75 minutes. A penalty by Newport was kicked into the 22, but the funny, the low lineout pass to the prop at the front and pass back to the hooker to trot in, was found to have been a forward pass.

It seemed like last weekend had not happened. Everything Newport were doing came off. Outrageous passes by Lucas Welsh went to hand, a cheeky one-handed lob by Joe Peard was caught by Will Ford who saw the opportunity to go wide. Ben Roach rampaged out on the flank as waves of Newport attacks crashed into tired-looking defenders. Eventually, Kyle Tayler-Woolston blazed through a gap to score. Will Ford nailed the straightforward two-pointer to make it Newport 57 Llandovery 19 with 79 minutes played.

A swashbuckling run by Sam Morgan deserved more but his pass out was picked off by Corey Baldwin in the Drovers’ defence. He sprinted into the Newport 22, but the ball was slow emerging. That, according to Mr Sion, was because of Kyle Tayler-Woolston. He brandished a yellow card at the scrum-capped flanker, who trudged off to reflect on quite a cameo; a try, one jackal leading to a try, and a yellow card, all in 29 minutes.

Llandovery fought for their fourth try, but the Black & Ambers were too wily, moving the ball away from danger and, when Matt O’Brien hefted a kick forward, making what would have been a 50:22, it was all over.

This was a rousing response to the performance against RGC, much more controlled and disciplined. Newport RFC rose to the top of the Super Rygbi Cymru standings, and the Challenge Sheild will be having at least four more weeks in NP19.

Full Time: Newport RFC 57 Llandovery RFC 19

The Black & Ambers now have two games on the road; first up is a short hop to visit our friends at Pontypool Park. Pontypool v Newport is next Saturday, October 24^th, and kick-off is at 2.30pm. Following that, we travel west to take on Carmarthen Quins in a Friday night game at Carmarthen Park. Kick-off is at 7.30pm. Speaking of Carmarthen, The Friends of Newport Rugby are eager to run a bus for supporters to this game. It is priced at £20 a seat which must be paid up front and is non-refundable, unless in the event of cancellation. Please contact FoNR via Socials to book.

Newport RFC’s next home fixture is on November 21^st, when the Whites of Swansea RFC are our guests at Newport Stadium, kick-off at 2.30pm.

Newport RFC host their Hall of Fame Awards on Friday November 6^th, in the Bisley Suite at Rodney Parade. Tickets are £45 which includes a carvery dinner. Please email Kevin Jarvis on commercial@newportrfc.co.uk

Onwards and upwards Newport.

Your City. Your Colours. Your Club

#cotp

Final Score – Newport RFC 57 Llandovery RFC 19

Vittorio’s Seren y Gem – Chay Foster-Smith

Ethan Phillips (unavailable) and Carwyn Penny  (injury) who both missed the RGC game, go straight in to the starting fifteen with Kyle Tayler, Joe Peard and Noah Morgan returning from injury and joining the replacements

Newport: Ed Thompson, Wade Langley, Ollie Drake, Nick Thomas, Ethan Phillips, Hunter Ward, Josh Reid, Ben Roach Capt., Dafydd Buckland, Will Ford, Fin Baker, Joe Westwood, Chay Foster-Smith, Sam Morgan, Carwyn Penny.

Replacements: Henry Palmer, Tom Devine, Garin Harris, Joe Peard, Kyle Tayler, Lucus Welch, Joe Salter, Noah Morgan.

Referee: Carwyn Sion

AR1: Spencer Clease

AR2: Jez Parsons

SLM: Rob Moto

Kick-off: 2:30

Venue: Newport Stadium, Newport Sports Village, NP19 4PT

This week’s numbers were: 6, 7, 11 & 22.

You can buy a ticket for just £1 from the Red Lion on Stow Hill and also the Handpost on Risca Road, as well as on match days from our volunteers.

Our next SRC league fixture is home to Llandovery at Newport Stadium this Saturday, 17th October. Kick off is at 14:30.

Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for your support.

Good luck!

Newport headed north in a buoyant mood; four wins from four with bonus points from each game can have that effect on a team. However, one club that is very good at upsetting the apple cart is RGC. Their talismanic outside half, Billy McBryde, was making his 100^th appearance for he Gogs, as they call themselves, and he surely would want to beat the league leaders on his home ground.

Speaking of milestone appearances, Wade Langley was making his 50^th outing in Black & Amber in a starting front row unchanged from the unit that bulldozed the Quins last week. Tiger Chatham started at 7 with Hunter Ward making an impact off the bench. The ongoing absence of Carwyn Penny saw Steff Davies start at Full Back.

Newport supporters varied their means of travelling to Colwyn Bay, many trusting Transport for Wales to get them there in a timely manner. If you become aware of a Newport RFC Supporters Club established in Crewe, you’ll know that optimism was misplaced.

There was quite a north-westerly breeze blowing off the North Sea as Will Ford got the game underway, Newport attacking left to right in front of the main stand. RGC fielded well and kicked to touch sensibly. The Black & Ambers tried to mount an attack, good surges by Tiger Chatham, Josh Reid and Joe Westwood stood out, but fierce defence ensured that progress was slow.

Newport got the nudge at the first scrum, but RGC whipped the ball away quickly to get to Newport’s 10-metre line. The Black & Ambers then lost the lineout, an apparent miscalculation of the wind strength making it nigh on impossible for Ben Roach to collect cleanly. RGC went hard at the Newport defence, but a pass out was picked off by Will Ford who sprinted 50-metres before being caught inside RGC’s 22.

A powerful Black & Amber scrum put Newport on the front foot; a neat kick-pass by Will Ford to Fin Baker saw him reach RGC’s 22-metre line, Steff Davies jinked around the cover, getting close to the try line. Dafydd Buckland ensured that the ball remained available, Chay Foster-Smith going close, but the ball popped up to Joe Westwood to crash over under the crossbar. Will Ford added the conversion to make it RGC 0 Newport 7 with 13 minutes played.

RGC started clicking the scoreboard over with a straightforward penalty by Billy McBryde following side entry to a maul. RGC 3 Newport 7 with 15 minutes played.

Newport were soon pinged again for shirt pulling, McBryde kicking his team up to the Newport 22. The Gogs were patient in their build-up, keeping calm and maintaining possession well. Stern defence from Newport, especially from Joe Westwood, seemed to stem the tide, but scrum half Tudur Jones wriggled through a half-tackle and popped the ball off the deck to centre Danny Cross to score. Billy McBryde converted to make it RGC 10 Newport 7 on 22 minutes.

Callum Bradbury made a superb steal to instantly relieve the pressure allowing Newport to work out of defence. Josh Reid was strong in attack, garnering a penalty for no release in the tackle as he went. Will Ford kicked to 10-metres out on the sea side, but a shocking lack of composure saw the position wasted, compounded by the scrum slipping and yielding another penalty.

The hosts were on the attack again, but Josh Reid did exceptionally well to clamp onto the ball and win the turnover. A powerful Newport scrum followed allowing Dafydd Buckland time to spark an attack. The ball quickly worked out to Sam Morgan who chipped ahead and chased his own kick. He only failed to gather following a push in the back. Unfortunately, Newport were awfully slack at the line out, spilling the ball. RGC wing Ieuan Cornelius caught hold and was away, only to be hauled down by Fin Baker. Newport were in possession and tried to spread the ball quickly but failed to be precise, gifting RGC a penalty. The Gogs kicked to the corner, number 8 Sam Williams claiming the lineout before hooker Osian Burt burrowed deep and crossed in the corner. Billy McBryde added the two-pointer to make it RGC 17 Newport 7 with 32 minutes played.

This was already proving to be an uncharacteristic Newport performance; too many mistakes by too many people was allowing RGC to dominate nearly every aspect of play. It would get worse.

Will Ford kicked Newport to the corner with a 33^rd minute penalty, but Josh Skinner was left isolated and easily robbed of possession by a hungry Gogs pack. The hosts were fluid in attack and a knock on was all that stopped them scoring again. Newport were at 6s and 7s.

The Black & Ambers were doing their best to escape the RGC onslaught, but Steff Davies’ clearing kick going straight to the hands of RGC wing Sam Jones was becoming symptomatic. RGC set their attack and a neat cross-kick by Billy McBryde to hooker Osian Burt shouldn’t have worked. The fact that it cannoned off the hookers shin and forced Dafydd Buckland to retreat to cover showed that it did, meaning that the kick to escape netted a 40-metre territory loss. Despite the best efforts of the visiting pack, the RGC scrum held. Centre Osian Llewellyn weighed in first, but he simply sucked in the defence to allow Sam Williams to cross under the posts. Billy McBryde added the conversion to make it RGC 24 Newport 7 on 38 minutes.

Newport hit back with a neat Fin Baker try. The Black & Ambers worked hard, keeping RGC hands away from the ball, keeping it available. Joe Westwood drifted the ball out to Fin Baker allowing him to cruise in at the corner. Will Ford added the extras to make it RGC 24 Newport 14 with 40 minutes on the clock.

The notion that Newport might win the game vanished in the next action as wing Ieuan Cornelius caught the restart kick and waltzed through a sleepy Newport defence without a hand being laid upon him. Billy McBryde added the conversion making it RGC 29 Newport 14 as the players headed for the changing room and the gathered crowd pulled their coat collars a little tighter around their necks.

Half Time:  RGC 1404 29 Newport RFC 14

Hunter Ward came out for the second half replacing Josh Reid. However, Ty Morris’ words at halftime seemed to have little effect as RGC scored again on 42 minutes. Another patient build up seemed to have been bottled up by Newport, until prop Gareth Parry emerged from a maul with ball in hand and made the simplest of passes to Tudur Jones. Billy McBryde improved the try, making it RGC 36 Newport 14.

Newport tried a patient build of their own, Hunter Ward leading from the front, Dafydd Buckland moving the ball around nicely until Tudur Jones intercepted a pass and kicked long. Steff Davies quickly turned in pursuit, but Sam Jones sniffed blood too. It was a straight race as the ball bobbled over the line. Both men dived at the ball. The referee, Mr Carwyn Sion, paused, consulted his assistant, and awarded the try to RGC. Billy McBryde converted to make it RGC 43 Newport 14.

The front row was changed over on 46 minutes, Messrs. Devine, Langley, and Harris making way for Ed Thompson, Henry Palmer and Nathan Davies, while Kobi Rees relieved Tiger Chatham of duty at the same time.

Newport built a response as Fin Baker broke through causing an RGC infringement. Will Ford kicked up to 21-metres, just as Cerrig Smith replaced Callum Bradbury and Joe Salter took over from Steff Davies. RGC went offside at a tackle prompting Will Ford to put Newport to the corner. Ben Roach rose highest, Henry Palmer latched onto the tail of the maul before releasing the ball to Dafydd Buckland. Joe Westwood surged ahead but it was Ed Thompson on hand to pick up the ball and cross for the try. Will Ford added the extras to make it RGC 43 Newport 21 with 53 minutes played.

The game was halted on 56 minutes due to an injury to Assistant Referee Gwyn Morris. Both sets of medics attended to, what appeared to be, a painful leg injury. Everyone at Newport RFC wishes Mr Morris well and hope to see him back on the field soon.

Danny Cross extended the hosts lead on the hour as another patient set of phases was rewarded with a try. It was far too easy for the big centre to step through some featherweight tackling. Billy McBryde did what Billy McBryde does to make it RGC 50 Newport 21.

Will Ford’s ingenuity wasn’t rewarded as he caught his own chip kick before popping the ball to Ben Roach, the captain being isolated and stripped of possession just metres from the line.

Newport’s cause wasn’t helped by a yellow card for Henry Palmer on 64 minutes, the hooker having been noticed infringing at a ruck.

Lucas Welsh replaced Dafydd Buckland at this juncture. Newport didn’t lie down as Hunter Ward spearheaded the attack. Chay Foster-Smith chipped ahead for Sam Morgan and Joe Westwood to pursue, but RGC dealt with the threat well.

Wade Langley was reintroduced to the game on 66 minutes, Josh Skinner giving way.

The Black & Ambers had plenty of intent, but it all seemed a little half-hearted. Kobi Rees tried to stir things up, but he was easily dealt with by a resolute defence. However, Newport showed what they were capable of via an ace score by Chay Foster-Smith on 71 minutes, earning the Black & Ambers the try-scoring bonus point. A clean ball off the top of a line out from Cerrig Smith saw Lucas Welsh push the ball wide. Sam Morgan joined the line at pace before passing infield for Chay Foster-Smith to run in and score. Will Ford kicked the conversion to make it RGC 50 Newport 28.

Newport coughed up possession in a, seemingly, innocuous position. RGC went hard, going through phases before Danny Cross appeared to have a cloak of invisibility thrown over him as he jinked around two or three half-hearted tackles before popping the ball off to Niall Povall to score. McBryde’s conversion hit the right-hand post, so the score now was RGC 55 Newport 28.

Unfortunately, the hosts weren’t finished with us. A needless 78^th minute penalty put the pressure back on, allowing McBryde to kick to 15-metres out. The lineout was completed and, once again, patient, well protected phases saw RGC approach the line and flanker Dafydd Thirsk cross to score. Billy McBryde added the two, making it RGC 62 Newport 28 on 80 minutes.

Newport constructed a decent chance themselves on 80+1 minutes, but the final pass to Fin Baker was judged to be forward.

Deep into stoppage time and RGC held the momentum again. Newport were barely keeping the black shirts out, but a penalty for not releasing in the tackle was to be the final action of the game. Rather than chance the kick to the corner, McBryde opted to twist the knife and kick the simple three-pointer to make it RGC 65 Newport 28. This, by my reckoning, was Newport RFC’s heaviest defeat since going down 7-46 to Pontypridd in April 2019, and the first time leaking 60 points since the 93-0 hammering away at Newcastle Falcons in the British & Irish Cup in December 2013. Disappointing, yes, but RGC were excellent value for their six-point win. The squad know what they need to do and I’m sure we’ll see a reaction next Saturday.

Full Time: RGC 1404 65 Newport RFC 28

Newport RFC are at home next Saturday, October 17^th, when the Drovers of Llandovery RFC visit. Kick-off will be at 2.30pm at Newport Stadium. Following that, the Black & Ambers visit our old friends at Pontypool RFC. Again, kick-off is at 2.30pm up at the Park.

The Friends of Newport Rugby are eager to run a bus for supporters to the return fixture at Carmarthen Park on Friday October 30^th. It’s priced at £20 a seat which must be paid up front and is non-refundable, unless in the event of cancellation. Please get in touch with FoNR via Socials to book.

Newport RFC host their Hall of Fame Awards on Friday November 6^th, in the Bisley Suite at Rodney Parade. Tickets are £45 which includes a carvery dinner. Please email Kevin Jarvis on commercial@newportrfc.co.uk

Onwards and upwards Newport.

Your City. Your Colours. Your Club

#cotp

Final Score – RGC 1404 65 Newport RFC 28

Once again, the coaching team makes changes to the Black & Amber starting fifteen.

Newport: Tom Devine, Wade Langley, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Callum Bradbury, Josh Reid, Tiger Chatham, Ben Roach, Dafydd Buckland, Will Ford, Fin Baker, Joe Westwood, Chay Foster-Smith, Sam Morgan, Steff Davies,

Replacements: Henry Palmer, Ed Thompson, Nathan Davies, Cerrig Smith, Hunter Ward, Lucus Welch, Joe Salter, A.N. Other

Referee: Carwyn Sion

AR1: Gwyn Morris

AR2: TBC

SLM: Rich Morgan

Kick-off: 2:30

Venue: Stadiwm Eiras, Parc Eirias, Abergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 75P

This week’s numbers were: 9, 15, 20 & 24.

You can buy a ticket for just £1 from the Red Lion on Stow Hill and also the Handpost on Risca Road, as well as on match days from our volunteers.

Our next SRC league fixture is away to RGC in Colwyn Bay this Saturday, 10th October. Kick off is at 14:30.

Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for your support.

Good luck!