Newport RFC v Cardiff RFC – 28th December 2024 by John Evans
Following the pulsating victory at the Parc yr Arfau last Sunday, Newport were to host our friends from Cardiff in the return Super Rygbi Cymru fixture the following weekend, at the more traditional kick-off time at 2.30pm on a Saturday afternoon.
Newport made minimal changes to the starting XV from last weekend, only Johnny Morris and Wade Langley missing out, Chay Foster-Smith and Henry Palmer starting in their place.
It was a chilly, still, grey day at Newport Stadium, the mercury reading around 5 degrees in the thermometer. The stand was nicely dotted with new Newport RFC bobble hats that folk had received as presents for Christmas!
Jac Lloyd kicked proceedings off, with Newport attacking the Cricket Club end. Benji Williams, the Cardiff 8, caught the ball before the kick return back to Newport. George Young went hard into contact, Jac Lloyd hoisted the ball high, so that Josh Thomas, the Cardiff fullback, received the ball and Harri Ackerman simultaneously.
Cardiff conceded the first penalty as they failed to roll away from a tackle. Jac Lloyd booted Newport to the corner, but the lineout failed, and Cardiff made an easy exit.
Nathan Hudd, Blue 7, conceded for a high tackle on Jac Lloyd. The outside half booted Newport to the corner again but, once more, the line out was squandered by a knock-on in the set play that followed.
Cardiff wing Jason Harries sparked his sides first real attack on 6 minutes, popping the ball to centre Elijah Evans who skipped past a few tackles, but was hauled down with 5 metres to go. Newport stepped offside in defence, Cardiff going to the corner, but the lineout defence was outstanding from Newport as the maul was halted and the Black & Ambers gaining the turnover.
The Blue & Blacks found themselves offside, centre field, on 11 minutes. Jac Lloyd booting his team to the 22, stand side. Dafydd Buckland found himself being used more as a decision maker, taking some of the load off Jac Lloyd, as he brought in dynamic runners; Ben Roach, Josh Skinner, and Oli Andrew all making big runs at the Cardiff defence, but they found themselves being slightly impatient as the ball sailed harmlessly to touch and the Cardiff line remained intact.
Minute 17 found Newport pressing as Harri Ackerman burst through the defence, leaving blue and black shirts in his wake. The Newport forwards weighed in and kept the momentum going. George Young went close, but a last pass out to Lloyd Lewis found the wingman airborne but unable to dot down. Playing with an advantage, the referee, Mr Ben Connor, came back for the full penalty which Jac Lloyd slotted from in front of the posts to make the score Newport 3 Cardiff 0.
Newport were penalised in defence on 21 minutes, Cardiff going to the corner. Cardiff captain Sean Moore took the lineout ball before the Blue & Blacks went blindside, outnumbering the Newport defence and Nathan Hudd being awarded the try, despite the efforts of Nathan Evans to smother the ball during grounding. Outside half Harri Wilde hit the right-hand post with the conversion attempt, so the score now was Newport 3 Cardiff 5. Unfortunately, Ioan Davies was injured during the build-up to this, Carwyn Penny replacing him at fullback.
Cardiff extended their lead a few minutes later when Newport infringed again. Harri Wilde punted Cardiff deep into Newport territory as their big boys set about the Black & Amber defence. Newport were equal to it until Harri Wilde found the correct combination, as a clever cross-kick to Jason Harries saw him claim the ball above Lloyd Lewis’ head, pass the ball infield to the supporting Elijah Evans who breezed across the Newport line and touch down near the posts. Harri Wilde kicked the conversion to make the score Newport 3 Cardiff 12.
Things got worse for the Black & Ambers as Cardiff built on their lead. Wing Joe Goodchild sprinted after a speculative kick, which Dafydd Buckland was back to defend. Goodchild snared the Newport 9, flipping him onto his back as he fell. The ball bobbled loose as the Cardiff runners arrived in numbers, Sean Moore being the man on the spot to dap the ball down. Harri Wilde added the two-pointer to make it Newport 3 Cardiff 19.
The Blue & Blacks were dominant and were winning virtually all phases of the game, but the punishment wasn’t over yet. Cardiff flooded their left wing and were advancing at pace. Harri Wilde kicked wide, inviting Oli Andrew to challenge Joe Goodchild for the ball. Unfortunately, the Newport winger mistimed his jump and knocked the Cardiff man to the ground. Mr Connor brandished the yellow card, as Oli Andrew trudged to the sidelines. Harri Wilde kicked to the corner, Craig Hudd, formerly of this parish, took the lineout ball as the Cardiff pack powered over the line, hooker Alun Rees scoring the try that secure their try-scoring bonus point. Harri Wilde missed the conversion, so the score was Newport 3 Cardiff 24 on 34 minutes, as Newport supporters began to watch the game through their fingers.
However, the home supporters did soon have something to cheer. Cardiff were penalised centre-field again, Jac Lloyd going to the corner. George Young claimed the aerial ball, but the rolling maul stuttered. Chay Foster-Smith blasted a hole through the Cardiff defence and reached the 5-metre area. Carwyn Penny found himself millimetres short. Henry Palmer, Josh Skinner, and Ben Roach were willing workhorses, but Jac Lloyd spotted Lloyd Lewis lurking right field. A swift pass out and the wingman touched down. Jac Lloyd nailed the conversion from wide on the right and the score now was Newport 10 Cardiff 24 and the clouds were beginning to part.
Half Time: Newport RFC 10 Cardiff RFC 24
One presumes that Ty Morris had a few things to say at halftime. Harri Ackerman ambling across the field before the restart suggested that changes had been made. Indeed, Matt O’Brien was introduced from the bench in an effort to stabilise the situation. His influence on the game would soon be apparent.
Harri Wilde restarted the game, Newport returning the kick. Benji Williams set up a ruck, but scrum half Ethan Lloyd found an unguarded spot and hared through it. Cardiff appeared to be continuing where they left off, but a careless pass out from Wilde went to ground. Dafydd Buckland seized the opportunity, sprinting between the 22s, until caught by Joe Goodchild. Newport arrived in numbers, Lloyd Lewis keeping the move going, before George Young powered over to edge Newport closer. Jac Lloyd’s conversion hit the left-hand post, making the score Newport 15 Cardiff 24 on 44 minutes. Sadly, Dafydd Buckland was unable to continue following the tackle, Luke Crane taking his place.
Ollie Drake and Harry Fry took over from Nathan Evans and Tom Workman at prop, just before an exquisite kick by Matt O’Brien teased a Cardiff defender into putting his toes on the white line as he tried to save the ball going to touch, giving Newport possession in a dangerous position. The Blue & Blacks knocked on at the lineout, giving Newport an attacking scrum, 5-metres out. Matt O’Brien tried a planned move, with Oli Andrew following him, but ran out of space. Josh Skinner was smart in nicking the Cardiff lineout, Newport taking full advantage. Harry Fry carried hard into contact, Chay Foster-Smith barging onward, but Mr Connor pulled Newport back for a full penalty. Matt O’Brien tapped quickly, trying to unsettle the Cardiff defence. Henry Palmer went close, Harry Fry closer, but Matt O’Brien popped a cute reverse pass to Lloyd Lewis who barged across for his second of the afternoon. Jac Lloyd added the two-pointer to make the score Newport 22 Cardiff 24 on 52 minutes.
Something of a rarity nowadays, but Newport were awarded a penalty restart, presumably someone in the Blue & Black ranks had the temerity to question Mr Connor’s judgement. Jac Lloyd gestured to the sticks as his booming kick bisected the posts to put Newport ahead again. Newport 25 Cardiff 24 on 53 minutes.
Josh Reid replaced Scott Davies on 55 minutes as Matt O’Brien’s control of the game was near total. He was bringing runners onto him and dictating play as Cardiff appeared to be on the ropes. The Blue & Blacks replacement prop Tom Harper did his teammates no favours as he clumsily tackled Oli Andrew and earned himself a ten-minute breather. Unbelievably, this was the same player yellow-carded in the reverse fixture last weekend for his ‘tackle’ on Dafydd Buckland. Surely, the Cardiff Head Coach, Dan Fish, will have Mr Harper doing additional tackling practice for a few weeks to modify his technique.
Newport sought to capitalise on the situation by attacking the right flank hard. However, a mix up had the ball go loose and Cardiff’s Elijah Evans emerged, ball clamped to his chest, sprinting hard. He caught the Newport defence flat, and despite Chay Foster-Smith brushing his fingertips to his boots, Evans was home and Cardiff were back ahead. Harri Wilde missed the conversion, so the score now was Newport 25 Cardiff 29 on 65 minutes.
The Blue & Blacks were impressive in taking care of the ball in possession, Newport struggling to get their hands on it at times. An excellent rolling maul from halfway had Newport on the back foot before Harri Wilde found Josh Thomas running a fabulous line that split the Black & Ambers in two. The Cardiff pack were quickly in support and marching forward, until Joe Goodchild was found out wide, scoring one of his trademark diving tries. Harri Wilde added the conversion to make the score Newport 25 Cardiff 36 on 73 minutes.
The game seemed lost at this point, but there was still something to play for. With another try, Newport would earn a try-scoring bonus point and, if they could stop Cardiff scoring again, would earn a second point for finishing within 7 points of the winner. Henry Palmer made way for Evan Wood, while Lewis David replace Kyle Tayler as the Black & Ambers looked to make this happen. The effort was phenomenal as Ollie Drake and Lewis David repeatedly hurled themselves at the defence. Matt O’Brien kept the defence honest as he pulled and pushed the game around him, until a gap appeared on the left and Jac Lloyd passed out to Oli Andrew to claim the try. It was now Newport 30 Cardiff 36 with 80+3 minutes on the clock.
It was a test of nerve now as there was time for a restart. This could have gone either way. Newport tried to play out, moving the ball from deep. Lloyd Lewis used his pace to outflank his defender on the right and hare away, getting the Newport supporters to their feet, but he was downed within the Cardiff half, the Blue & Black defenders doing enough to suffocate the ball and hang on for the win.
Full Time: Newport RFC 30 Cardiff RFC 36
If you had asked the average Newport supporter, on the morning of December the 22nd, “would you be happy with six points out of these two fixtures, and finish with an aggregate score of 57-56 in Newport’s favour, and ‘win’ 3 of the 4 halves of rugby?”, most would undoubtedly have said yes. Cardiff are a very good team and will have a big say in who wins silverware at the end of this season, if they don’t claim some for themselves. But Newport are a very good team as well, and we need to remember that.
Newport RFC are next in action on Saturday January 4th, 2025, when they travel to mid-Wales to face Llandovery RFC in a Super Rygbi Cymru fixture. Trips to Church Bank are always tricky, so a big travelling support would help the boys no end! We then have a few weekends free of rugby until January 25th, when the team head to the Cae’r Bragdy to take on Bridgend RFC in a rearranged SRC game. The Black & Ambers next home fixture isn’t until February 15th, when Carmarthen Quins visit us again, this time in the SRC Cup competition.
It only remains to say that the club wish all its friends and supporters a healthy and peaceful New Year. Happy 2025!
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; George Young
Final Score – Newport RFC 30 Cardiff RFC 36