Newport wrapped up their Super Rugby Cymru preparations by crossing the Severn Bridge for a visit to our friends at Dings Crusaders. Our hosts will be plying their trade in the English National League 1 this season, after winning promotion last year. They will now be taking on the likes of Plymouth Albion, Moseley, Esher, Rosslyn Park, and our friends at Blackheath RFC.
The club moved from inner-city Bristol some years ago and now have a purpose-built ground near the M32 in Frenchay. It is an enviable facility with a nice stand and a very comfortable bar area. They have developed community links well, alongside working with the Bristol Bears professional team; indeed, they are the home ground for the Bears Ladies team. Newport have visited Shaftesbury Park on two previous occasions, in 2019 and 2023, and on both occasions the Black & Ambers have emerged ahead, but never by more than 7 points, so a rigorous afternoon was expected.
The Newport team was rotated again to give more players game-time, as well as trying some new combinations.
Jac Lloyd kicked the game off for Newport as the visitors defended the motorway end of the ground. Dings Crusaders lining up in a black strip, with narrow blue hoops, and blue trim to their shorts, returned with a kick that fell to Carwyn Penny. Ben Roach trucked the ball forward solidly. The ruck was completed, and Newport kicked to the corner, but the Dings’ fullback was pinged for not releasing the ball. Jac Lloyd kicked Newport to the corner. Ben Roach claimed the lineout ball, transferred it to Kyle Tayler before Henry Palmer powered over for the opening try on 1 minute and 27 seconds. Jac Lloyd nailed the conversion to make it Dings 0 Newport 7.
Dings cut an excellent line through the Newport defence, but their outside half, Finn Fielder, made a poor effort of putting pressure on the visitors as the ball corkscrewed off his boot, to the point where Dings ended up conceding both possession and territory. However, Dings scrumhalf did excellently to drive his team onward, being sharp at a penalty. Dings kept the ball alive very well, tempting Newport offside. Fielder atoned for his earlier error by slotting the penalty and opening the scoring for Dings Crusaders. 3-7, with 9 minutes played.
The game’s first scrum came on 11 minutes and the Black & Ambers gained the upper hand, the front row of Workman, Palmer, and Drake easing their opponents into reverse, leaving room for Dafydd Buckland to pass to Jac Lloyd who broke the line with alarming ease. He then popped the ball on to the supporting Buckland who juggled before dotting down for try number 2 for Newport. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Dings 3 Newport 14 on 12 minutes.
Dings put in some good, solid approach work on 16 minutes, the fullback appearing to be through, but a last-ditch tackle by Dafydd Buckland halted his progress and dislodged the ball.
A speculative kick from Dings was dotted down by Carwyn Penny, forcing a goal-line drop out. An excellent 50:22 kick back into Newport territory kept the pressure on, but Dings were clumsy in attack, and Newport could wrestle possession back and free themselves.
Newport tried to run from deep, but an ill-advised stretch for the ball by a Newport hand simply batted the ball to ground, from which Dings centre Soloman Taufa gathered possession and hared to the line. Finn Fielder added the conversion to make it Dings 10 Newport 14 on 22 minutes.
Dings were starting to exude confidence; Jac Lloyd’s restart going out on the full gave them a platform to switch play, keep the Newport defenders guessing. A penalty for not rolling away in the tackle allowed Dings to set up in the Newport 22, but, again, the hosts fluffed their lines in attack by not throwing in straight. The Black & Ambers were conceding penalties at an alarming rate, but Dings were unable to capitalise with a variety of errors. They were eventually pushed clear of their 22 when Ben Roach nicked opposition ball at a line out, Jac Lloyd kicked clear, and a Dings winger fumbled the ball under no pressure whatsoever.
However, it was Dings that scored next. Tom Hughes tried to sail a long, floating pass out to Dai Richards, but evidently failed to see Dings winger, Smith, sharking around looking for easy meat. He picked off the pass and ran from over halfway to score. Fielder, again, kicked the conversion to make it Dings 17 Newport 14 on 31 minutes.
Newport wing Liam Lloyd carved a route towards the Dings try line but was well tracked by Smith. Dings kept up the pace but a kick to Carwyn Penny allowed the fullback time to size up his options. He broke right, delayed his pass by a microsecond, enough to give Lloyd Lewis half a yard of space. With one man to beat, Lewis’ kick ahead bobbled into touch.
There was much to consider for Ty Morris and his staff at halftime. Newport hadn’t played badly at all, but, with a few modifications, they should be much better in the second half.
Half Time: Dings Crusaders RFC 17 Newport RFC 14
Finn Fielder restarted the game and Newport sought to play. Dafydd Buckland looked to get his side moving, but a poor pass to Dai Richards left the centre with no chance. Dings then knocked on themselves, but Ben Roach rectified a creaking Newport scrum by bustling his way forward, despite the attention of a third of the Dings pack.
Newport made a few changes on 46 minutes, Liam Lloyd, Iwan Pyrs-Jones, Iwan Johnes, and Nathan Evans replaced Elliot Frewen, Lloyd Lewis, Tom Hughes, and Ollie Drake.
Newport had a 49th minute penalty which Jac Lloyd booted to the corner. Ben Roach was lofted, the rolling maul set before Josh Skinner broke away and bulldozed his way to the line, to the point where one felt sorry for the lad left defending. Jac Lloyd converted the try making the score Dings 17 Newport 19 on 49 minutes.
The B&As won loose ball on the deck, encouraging them to go wide quickly. Iwan Pyrs-Jones was soon into his distinctive long stride but was hauled down 5 metres short. Josh Skinner, in support, was judged to have knocked on as Wade Langley relieved Henry Palmer of hooking duty.
Newport were in the ascendency as a rolling maul attacked the Dings line. Wade Langley and Kyle Tayler took it in turns to punch at the defence, but a pass out drew Dings number 8 Harry Hone to try and intercept a pass, simply to knock on and earn himself a yellow card.
Josh Reid took his place on the field as Dings were penalised for a deliberate knock on again, Jac Lloyd punting for the corner. Joe Peard was sent up this time, but Dings conceded again for not rolling away in the tackle. Newport went to the corner once more, and Wade Langley got the try as Newport exploited the numbers up front. Jac Lloyd converted to make it Dings 17 Newport 26 on 59 minutes.
Archie Callaghan replaced Tom Workman just moments before Dings were awarded a second yellow card, as Matt Lane was punished for a clumsy tackle on Iwan Pyrs-Jones, leaving the hosts down to 13 players. Jac Lloyd placed Newport where they wanted to be, as Joe Peard took a dip at the line. The ball recycled quickly out to Iwan Pyrs-Jones to skip through some would-be tacklers and score, to his obvious pleasure. Jac Lloyd added the two-pointer to make it Dings 17 Newport 33 on 65 minutes.
Dafydd Buckland’s afternoon was over as Luke Crane took over the number 9 position as Newport made a hash of the restart, fumbling the catch then being penalised for bridging at a ruck. Dings went to the corner to emulate Newport’s rolling maul but found the Black & Amber defence to alert. They had the opportunity to reset the lineout but overthrew it, then were penalised at the ensuing scrum. Dings really needed to sort out their jitteriness in the opposition 22, but it was Newport’s good fortune that they couldn’t.
The last Newport changes took place, with Louis Pullen, Dray-Jack Griffin, and Lewis David replacing Ben Roach, Jac Lloyd and Kyle Tayler. Carwyn Penny moved forward to ‘10’.
A good pop pass from Carwyn Penny to Josh Reid, with Josh Skinner in support, was interesting, but to be fair, Josh Skinner was never going to win a foot race against the Dings scrum half while chasing the kick. The ball was touched down forcing Dings into a goal line drop out. Elliot Frewen took the catch, set up the ruck before Carwyn Penny spotted a gap and sent Josh Reid powering through it to score. Carwyn Penny kicked the conversion to make the score Dings 17 Newport 40 on 71 minutes.
Dings, to their credit, kept pushing Newport and earned a 78th minute penalty for bodies in the ruck. They went to the corner, but their forwards were poor in the rolling maul, much too upright, and Newport’s dynamic and aggressive defence made short work of them.
Newport kept playing with an adventurous spirit, looking to keep the ball alive and benefitted from an injury time decision by the referee as another clumsy high tackle came in. Carwyn Penny kicked Newport to the corner again. The Black & Ambers went through the phases before Lewis David carved a gap open and made an overhead basketball pass to Luke Crane to dive over and score. Carwyn Penny slotted the two-pointer to round the game off with a decisive win for Newport.
Full Time: Dings Crusaders RFC 17 Newport RFC 47
Newport RFC are grateful to Dings Crusaders RFC for the hospitality and, naturally, wish them good luck for the coming season ahead.
Super Rugby Cymru begins on Saturday September 14th, when the Ravens of Bridgend are our visitors to Newport Stadium. We’re hoping that it’ll be a busy game, so it may be prudent to buy your tickets in advance of the day. Also, Season Tickets are still on sale which will give you a whole season of exciting Black & Amber Super Rugby! Please visit the website blackandambers.co.uk for more information.
On Saturday September 7th, we celebrate the club’s 150th season! There is a gala dinner arranged at the Celtic Manor. Phil Steele will host the evening, which will also feature live music from Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band. The Gold tables have already sold out, so please email commercial@newportrfc.co.uk for more information.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Josh Skinner
Final Score – Dings Crusaders RFC 17 Newport RFC 47