Newport RFC v Pontypool RFC – 14th March 2025 by John Evans
After a lacklustre couple of performances against Ebbw Vale, in both cup and league, it was good to get a win under the belt against a Monmouthshire Presidents XV last weekend in a celebratory friendly. However, it was back to business as “Pooler” came to town for their first visit to Newport Stadium. This was a Super Rygbi Cymru Cup game. What Newport needed to progress out of the rounds was a convincing victory, coupled with a win by Swansea over Ebbw Vale on the following day. All Newport could do was to control the things that they could control, and hope that the Whites would do them a big favour.
Newport named an interesting squad; it was good to see former captain Rhys Jenkins get some game time at 7, while Lloyd Lewis has made enough of a recovery from his sickening leg injury at Bridgend, in January, to make the bench. It was also good to see Che Hope back at scrumhalf, a position he last started in October during the 62-7 demolition of RGC.
The conditions were excellent, a dry pitch, and next to no breeze. In front of a healthy-sized crowd, the scene was set for a good match.
Jac Lloyd kicked off, with Newport attacking the cricket club end of Newport Stadium. The Black & Ambers had plenty of ‘go forward’, Ben Roach stepped across the back of a poorly defended Pooler ruck to reclaim possession, Che Hope boomed out a long pass to Tom Workman, Josh Skinner had a drive into the guts of the red, white and black jerseys, but a firm tackle on Jonny Morris dislodged the ball and Pontypool could escape.
Pontypool bustled forward, and centre Joel Mahoney lost control of the ball as he was hit firmly. Che Hope spotted the gap and went, with Jonny Morris in hot pursuit. He passed inside, to Morris running the angle, but the subsequent offload went to ground and the opportunity evaporated.
Pooler were careless at the ruck again on 15 minutes, as Henry Palmer legally scooped up the ball from the Pontypool side. Che Hope booted long, but the visiting back three combined well. Newport conceded a penalty, prompting Joel Mahoney to try his luck. He tapped quickly but was downed just short of the line. Second row Buster Bodkin passed wide to wing Matthew Powell, but he was dealt with promptly. Kieran Meek’s cross kick was too heavy, and Oli Andrew dealt with it comfortably. However, the referee, Mr Rhys Jones, spotted another Newport infringement. Pooler went to the corner, Dan Hill rising high, but Mr Jones spotted him jumping across the line and awarded a penalty to Newport. The Black & Ambers had played their ‘get out of jail free’ card.
Ben Roach claimed a lineout ball, Che Hope’s beautifully weighted pass, and Jonny Morris’ immaculately timed run combined to burst the Pontypool defence wide open. The visitors streamed back, but flanker Adam Stratton overstepped the mark as he played the ball on the floor from the Newport side. Unfortunately, the less said about the attempted kick at goal, the better.
After nearly half an hour of play, things were starting to feel very traditional. Retro, even. Black & Amber jerseys running into Red, White, & Black jerseys, all in the middle third of the park, with the scoreboard still reading Newport 0 Pontypool 0. The game desperately needed a spark of inventiveness.
It came on 37 minutes. From a steady scrum, Ben Roach fed the ball to Che Hope, who passed out to Oli Andrew. He kicked ahead, but it was Che Hope who gathered the ball, popping it infield for Jac Lloyd to scurry over the line for a well-worked try. Jac Lloyd added the two-pointer to make it Newport 7 Pontypool 0.
A cute reverse chip kick by Che Hope placed Newport into the far corner of Pontypool territory. Wing Jordan Thomas thought he had evaded Oli Andrew, but hadn’t reckoned on the Newport man’s quick recovery, and he was ankle-tapped just metres later. Newport gained a penalty as Pontypool struggled to recover. The visitors were smart in defence, though, and held their line well.
Ollie Drake replaced Garin Harris on 40+3 minutes as the prop went off with an injury.
The next try came in the 6th minute of first half stoppage time, as Chay Foster-Smith burst through some half-hearted tackling. Carwyn Penny and Josh Skinner both exhibited some fantastic handling to create space as Ben Roach sprinted clear. He was tackled around the Pontypool 22, but Newport retained the ball. Che Hope went left, Elliot Frewen wriggling and working hard, managed to regain his composure and keep the move alive. Just as it was starting to look scruffy, Oli Andrew found himself with huge amounts of room. The ball arrived as the big winger barged his way through the cover defence to score. Jac Lloyd kicked the conversion to make the halftime score Newport 14 Pontypool 0.
Half Time: Newport RFC 14 Pontypool RFC 00
Kieran Meek restarted the game for Pontypool, but it was Newport who struck first. Pontypool tried to build slowly, from deep, but the aggressive Newport defence were on top. A pass to Pooler centre Marcus Jones was hopelessly high, the big man stretching up for it. Che Hope was sniffing around, trying his luck, as the ball fell kindly to him, leaving him to sprint in for the try, unstoppable from 30 metres. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Newport 21 Pontypool 0 on 41 minutes.
Pontypool struck back on 44 minutes with a try by Dan Hill. Wing Jordan Thomas bustled through the midfield, popping on to Marcus Jones, but the centre was flattened. Pontypool retained possession, however, and Newport yielded a penalty. Pontypool tapped and went through their phases. It was glacially slow, and maybe that was what tricked the Newport defence into leaving a gap for Dan Hill to lurch through and touch down. Kieran Meek added the two, making it Newport 21 Pontypool 7.
Pontypool introduced two of their old stagers straight after; Scott Matthews and Ieuan Jones took to the field, signifying that whatever Pontypool had tried to do in the first 45 minutes, they were abandoning for an old-fashioned bump-it-up-the-middle style of play.
Ty Morris rolled the dice, too, on 49 minutes. Max Williams, Rhys Jenkins, Tom Workman, and Elliot Frewen were replaced with Josh Reid, Kyle Tayler, Nathan Evans, and Lloyd Lewis.
Pontypool certainly did seem rejuvenated by the introduction of their backrowers. Their energy levels were high, but their accuracy levels didn’t join them, not until Walker Price made his mark on the game. The Pontypool forwards put together a well-worked series of phases, driving forward nicely, before Kieran Meek brought in the Pooler full back at pace, and running the perfect angle. He tore through the Newport backline and crossed for an excellent try under the crossbar, drawing a roar from the visiting supporters, who had little to shout about for best part of an hour, to be honest. Kieran Meek added the conversion to make the score Newport 21 Pontypool 14 on 53 minutes.
Newport were awarded a 55th minute penalty. Jac Lloyd fancied the kick from 45-metres, but it faded to the right of the posts.
The Black & Ambers were snatching at things, forcing the ball and making mistakes. It would take another shaft of inspiration to get the scoreboard moving again. Carwyn Penny provided that shaft. A solid 63rd minute scrum and Jac Lloyd boomed a pass out to Carwyn Penny, joining the line from full back. He took an arcing track, using Lloyd Lewis as a decoy as he showed the ball, before rounding the defence to squeeze in at the corner. Jac Lloyd’s trickiest conversion of the evening proved no problem, making the score Newport 28 Pontypool 14.
Iestyn Galton replaced Jonny Morris, Tyler Olding came on for Henry Palmer, while Che Hope stood down for Dafydd Buckland.
It was interesting to watch the dynamic between Scott Matthews and our own Josh Skinner. Both men played together at Cross Keys and are cut from similar cloth. Both pushed their luck at times, but Mr Jones was sensible enough to not micro-manage.
A chip and chase by Oli Andrew on 75 minutes looked promising. Ben Roach was omnipresent, but the Pooler cover was good. The Black & Ambers persisted, and a pass out of contact from Roach to Lloyd Lewis, as Roach was falling to ground, was possibly worth the entrance fee alone. Unfortunately for Newport, the Pontypool defence was sorted, and the attack was snuffed out.
The game was petering out, both side making unnecessary mistakes, but it was Newport who seemed most likely to score again, not that that was very likely either. It would take a mistake, and Pontypool provided that during the first minute of stoppage time. A huge forward pass was spotted by Mr Jones, and the resulting scrum capitulated. Newport were awarded a penalty prompting Jac Lloyd to gesture at the sticks. He slotted the kick to make it Newport 31 Pontypool 14.
There was time to restart. Pooler tried in vain for a consolation score, getting close on the left wing as a grubber kick had Matthew Powell chasing hard, but it was well marshalled by Carwyn Penny, who was certainly in the conversation for Man of the Match, and he casually tapped the ball into touch with his boot to bring the game to a close.
Full Time: Newport RFC 31 Pontypool RFC 14
Our next home game will be a Super Rygbi Cymru league fixture against Pontypool at Rodney Parade on Sunday 30 March, kick-off 2.30pm. Please note that there will be different ticketing arrangements for this game. Season tickets will be valid for this game, but season ticket holders will need to collect a ground ticket from our sales booth on the way into the ground. They will not be able to gain entry just by presenting their season ticket. The tickets that will be issued will be for numbered seats so if you want to sit with somebody else then it would be best to arrive together.
Non-season ticket holders, including Pontypool supporters, will need to purchase their tickets from the Dragons RFC ticket office. They can do this in advance of the game via the Dragons RFC website, and supporters are encouraged to buy in advance to avoid queues on the day. To encourage this the price for advance sales will be lower than on matchday. If you do decide to purchase your ticket on match day, you will need to do so from the Dragons RFC ticket office under the stand and not from our usual ticket kiosk on the way down to the stand.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Che Hope
Final Score – Newport RFC 31 Pontypool RFC 14