Newport v Monmouthshire County RFC President’s XV – Report by Steve Bennett
Newport welcomed Monmouthshire County to Rodney Parade as part of their 150th anniversary. Monmouthshire last faced the black & ambers in 1966. The game was played in perfect conditions, mild spring-like temperatures welcomed both sides.
The visitors included former Newport old boys Lavender, Leadbeater, J. Howells and Morgan Burgess
Monmouthshire kicked off in Dark blue and yellow kits, unusually not in their Light Blue jerseys and white jerseys., although the players wore their club socks. Josh Prosser the county outside half kicked off towards the school end. The early minutes were all Monmouthshire but despite stretching Newport it was ended by the visitors conceding a penalty. Newport playing in retro jerseys and numbering especially for this celebration season opened the scoring after 4 minutes when Carwyn Penny crashed over after Newport got in the visitors 22. Matt O’Brien converted.
Newport 7 – 0 Monmouthshire
A good passing movement by the visitors and forward pressure led to a penalty which the visitors kicked to the corner, Monmouthshire opted for a shortened line-out but was stolen by Newport. After 11 minutes a great passing movement under the Bisley stand involving Joe Peard and acting captain Matt O’Brien saw Dafydd Buckland weaved his way over near the posts. Matt O’Brien converted.
Newport 14 – 0 Monmouthshire
A cross kick by O’Brien was caught by Elliot Frewen who took the play up to the 22, Monmouthshire were entering into the spirit of the occasion and running the ball from deep although the accuracy in turning the ambition into points was lacking. With the halfway point of the half being reached Newport were starting to dominate possession. Frewen caught another cross-field kick from O’Brien, then proceeded on a long run deep into the visitors’ half. On 21 minutes, against the run of play, Bargoed full back Dylan Williams went on a superb run from deep which saw Penalta second row Corey Tucker open the visitors score. Outside half Josh Prosser converted.
Newport 14 – 7 Monmouthshire
22 minutes, Newport replacement Billy McDermott came after concerted Newport pressure. Matt O’Brien converted.
Newport 21 – 7 Monmouthshire
25 minutes Penalta’s centre Lewis Barnet scored after a passing movement and possession. Newport 21 – 12 Monmouthshire
On 33 minutes came the try of the night, Jon Morris picked up the ball on halfway and weaved and ducked his way past defenders to score under the posts. O’Brien converted.
Newport 28 – 12 Monmouthshire
Newport were in possession for the remainder of the half but no score was added.
Half Time Newport 28 – 12 Monmouthshire
Matt O’Brien resumed play and Newport went on the attack and dominated the first seven minutes which included a great run by Barney Nightingale which was only ended in the visitors twenty-two when the centre threw a wild pass with scrum half Buckland racing up in support. Despite Newport’s best efforts it was the visitors who scored next After a fine runs by Barnett and Penalta’s Elliott Keep, leading to full back Williams going over for a try, which Prosser converted.
Newport 28 – 19 Monmouthshire
From this moment Newport piled on the pressure, but the County side were missing few tackles, and their commitment was Meritus.
The visitors were conceding numerous penalties, Newport were dominating the scrums, Penalties were kicked into the corner, but despite all the pressure, territory and possession it took until the 61st minute for Chay Foster-Smith to cross for a try which O’Brien converted.
Newport 35 – 19
In open play Elliott Frewen was proving a nightmare for the visitors and was flattened by a no arms tackle, but only 3 minutes later he repaid the favour when he wriggled over after Newport pressure, yet again O’Brien added the extra two points.
Newport 42 – 19
70 minutes Newport’s abundance of territory and possession was telling as Iwan Dark crashed over and Matt O’Brien converted.
Newport 49 – 19 Monmouthshire
An O’Brien cross kick to Frewen caused more panic in the County’s defence
On 76 minutes Tom Lewis went over wide out near the changing rooms.
In the 79th minute Corey Tucker was sin-binned for a high tackle on Matt O’Brien
Final score Newport 54 – 19 Monmouthshire
Without the pressure of league points at stake this proved to be an entertaining game played in the right spirit. Monmouthshire entered the spirit of things in a game when kicking the ball off the field was taboo. Monmouthshire’s outside half Josh Prosser even put a few cross kicks in himself to match Matt O’Brien.
Next Friday the black & ambers return to more serious matters when they take on Pontypool at Newport Stadium in the Super Rugby Cymru cup, kick off 19:30.