Newport RFC v Carmarthen Quins RFC – 30th November 2024
The pre-programmed early season break, for the Autumn Internationals, was extended by a week when Storm Bert visited South Wales, wreaking havoc generally, but decimating the rugby fixtures. Only RGC managed to stage their game, but they were out of the line of fire in Colwyn Bay. Indeed, our friends at Newport HSOB had a real drama with the weather and have launched an appeal for money and equipment as their clubhouse was flooded. If you feel that you would like to donate, please go here – https://www.gofundme.com/f/nhsob-club-road-to-recovery
Ty Morris named a strong starting side, a pack with the ability to dominate, and a back division with the guile and power to carve teams apart. However, Quins have shrugged off their indifferent form of last season and have registered four wins from eight this season, including wins against Cardiff and Pontypool; they clearly would be treated with respect by the Black & Ambers.
Garin Harris led Newport onto the field, this being the occasion of his 150th game for the club. Llongyfarchiadau, Garin! Newport wore their change shirts of Monmouthshire blue, fading to amber, while Quins wore their usual red, yellow, and black stripes, albeit in narrower bands than the traditional jersey.
Elis Price kicked off for Quins, with Newport attacking the SDR end of the ground. The wind appeared to be deceptive as the ball flew straight into touch awarding Newport a scrum over the centre spot straight away. However, the scrum couldn’t settle, and Quins were awarded a penalty, Price punting his team deep into Newport territory. Newport were pinged again at the resultant line out, so Quins reset. Ryan Bean climbed high for the Quins, hooker Sion Jones clamping onto the tail of the maul, but Newport got amongst the attack and made Quins play it. Scrum half Rhodri Davies popped the ball to flanker Ben Williams, but the pass out was rushed and Newport escaped unscathed.
Newport conceded a scrum penalty again on 5 minutes, but, again, Quins kicked the ball dead and let their hosts off the hook.
The Black & Ambers looked to create as Garin Harris set up position, Chay Foster-Smith delayed his pass by a crucial half second to release Kyle Tayler to burst through the visitor’s defence, but the flying flanker held on to the ball for half a second too long and the opportunity went astray.
8 minutes in and Newport were penalised for the fourth time. This time, Elis Price made no mistake, gesturing at the sticks, then slotting the kick, to make the score Newport 0 Carmarthen Quins 3.
Newport won their first penalty of the game on 15 minutes, placing themselves into the corner. Lineout completed, an excellent rolling maul sucked the Quins forwards in, conceding a penalty as it rumbled forward. From deep within the huddle of Blue & Amber shirts emerged Garin Harris, ball clamped to chest, forcing himself downward to score. Carwyn Penny nailed the conversion making the score Newport 7 Quins 3.
Newport began to find parity in the scrums on 20 minutes following yet another restart going directly to touch, as the Quins pack slowly backpedalled.
The Quins attacked hard, but Henry Palmer’s hit on his opposite number stopped that mullarkey in its tracks. Cai Evans, starting at full back for Newport, booted the ball long, but, unfortunately, the ball stayed infield before rolling dead, rather than bobble into touch, and that was the difference between an attacking 5-metre lineout, and defending a scrum back in your own 22. Carwyn Tuipolotu broke from the back of the scrum, but, again, Henry Palmer was pulling up trees in defence as he ripped the ball away from prop Connor Allen, and Newport could escape again.
Elis Price took a heavy knock on 32 minutes and found himself replaced by Aled Thomas, formerly of this parish. Aled has had quite the career; aside from playing for Newport, he has represented Gloucester, London Welsh, Scarlets, and the Dragons. He will be 40 years of age in January. Fair play to the man.
Newport were gaining their share of penalties, and a 34th minute award put Newport into position to attack. Newport went through the phases patiently following the lineout before Tom Workman powered onto a pop pass to crash through for Newport’s second try. This made the score Newport 12 Quins 3.
Aled Thomas tried to restart, dropping the ball bang onto the 10-metre line for his forwards, but the wind interfered again, and it dropped short. The Newport front row earned a penalty at the next scrum, and Carwyn Penny was able to belt Newport to the corner. Ben Roach claimed the lineout, but the rolling maul was held. Dafydd Buckland broke, the team went through the phases before Carwyn Penny spotted a half gap to jink through. He was short, but Dafydd Buckland was on hand to keep it going. Liam Lloyd was close, but Henry Palmer crossed, only for the referee, Mr Matthew Leon, to call a knock-on. However, the front row did the business again and won another penalty. This time, a neat switch between Ben Roach and Josh Skinner changed the point of attack, but Quins were alive to it. Dafydd Buckland tried to work it clear, but the Newport backs were having to reorganise quickly as they kept the ball. Ultimately, an unsympathetic pass around Johnny Morris’ shins was knocked forward, and Mr Leon blew for half time.
Half Time: Newport RFC 12 Carmarthen Quins 3
Carwyn Penny restarted the game, but Newport were penalised within seconds giving Aled Thomas the chance to place his team deep into Newport territory. Newport were up for the defence, though, and replied with a scrum penalty enabling Carwyn Penny to plant Newport up to the Quins 22. Josh Skinner took the lineout, but the Quins’ pack held the maul well, ultimately winning the turnover. Carwyn Tuipolotu broke from the scrum again, but Dafydd Buckland challenged the big man and relieved him of the ball, and Newport were away again. The Black & Ambers threw everything into attack, Henry Palmer crossing but being judged to be held up over the line. Then, bizarrely, Mr Leon awarded Quins a penalty with no gesture as to what had happened to justify that decision.
Ollie Drake and Wade Langley too to the field on 51 minutes, replacing Garin Harris and Henry Palmer.
Newport were at fault on 54 minutes when a knee hit the deck at a scrum. Aled Thomas kicked the penalty to make it Newport 12 Quins 6.
Newport looked to extend their lead, running from deep. Carwyn Penny looped and passed out, but the hand of Quins centre Jac Howells was lingering, and the ball was knocked forward. Mr Leon had a quick consult with his Assistant before brandishing the yellow card at the Quins man. Newport kicked for the corner. With the lineout completed, Newport patiently went through their phases, Kyle Tayler making good ground with a well-timed charge, but it was down to Josh Skinner to blow the doors off, hitting the line at pace, battering through scant defence and crossing with his back on the right-hand post pad. Carwyn Penny added the two-pointer to make it Newport 19 Quins 6. And, with that mic drop, Josh Skinner trotted off to be replace by Joe Peard.
Confidence seemed to be rising among the Black & Ambers as Carwyn Penny tried to engineer a way forward for Newport, but it was the injection of raw pace by Chay Foster-Smith that needed the credit here. A scorch along the left wing left defenders for dead. Liam Lloyd was sprinting up in support, and a simple draw and pass put the winger in for the bonus point try. This made the score Newport 24 Quins 6 on 62 minutes.
Nathan Evans replaced Tom Workman on 63 minutes, just as Newport seemed to look a little steelier than earlier. Carwyn Penny scuttled the ball into the corner, causing some confusion amongst the Quins defence before gaining a lineout. Newport, again, went through their phases, battering at the Quins door, before Ben Roach was launched across the line as one of a trio of blue and amber jerseys under the crossbar. Carwyn Penny added the conversion to make it Newport 31 Quins 6.
The Black & Ambers emptied their bench, Barney Nightingale replacing Liam Lloyd, Scott Davies on for Kyle Tayler, Luke Crane taking over from Dafydd Buckland, and Tom Hughes relieving Johnny Morris of duty.
Quins hit back on 75 minutes with a try through Lee Taylor, as the floodlights made the late afternoon gloom seem darker than it was. Aggressive approach work, and a terrific pop of the ball by flanker Ben Williams, managed to puncture the Black & Amber curtain. Aled Thomas added the conversion making the score Newport 31 Quins 13.
With the game clearly lost, Quins began playing with an abandonment that hadn’t even been hinted at in the previous hour and a quarter of rugby. They were patient, clinical, and constantly probing at the defence, convinced they would find a weak spot. And indeed, they did. Scrum half Rhodri Davies scarpered through a gap and sprinted in for a well-earned try. Again, Aled Thomas kicked the two-pointer to make it Newport 31 Quins 20, and the additional bonus point, for being 15 points or more ahead, was in danger for Newport. Imagine if Quins had played like this for longer than five minutes?
Quins kept the momentum going, but Newport managed to slam the door shut on them. Carwyn Penny began to run from his own 22, being downed pretty quickly, but Nathan Evans, not one to stand on ceremony, grabbed the ball from the back of the ruck, turned and smashed the ball dead, reminiscent of Peter Kay in his “’Ave it” advertisement.
Full Time: Newport RFC 31 Carmarthen Quins 20
This was a funny old game from Newport, almost instantly forgettable, yet tinged with a few moments of pure quality. It was like listening to a modern jazz quartet; long spells of barely listenable jangling punctuated by a few bars of pure beauty. But the records show a ‘W’ and, ultimately, that’s all that really matters.
Newport RFC are back in action next Saturday December 7th, when they travel to Bridgend to face the Ravens. Kick off is at 2.30pm at the Brewery Field. Following that, on Saturday December 14th, the Black & Ambers host Swansea RFC at Newport Stadium. This is our last home fixture before Christmas, so it’s an ideal opportunity to visit the club shop and either hint at, or pick up for yourself, that Newport RFC item that you’ve been secretly coveting! There will also be the opportunity to pick up a Newport RFC “Cowboy-themed Rugby Calendar”. This has been put together by the team as a fund-raiser for their tour to Texas in the Summer.
On Monday December 2nd, the club chaplain, the Rev. Andrew Lightbown, is hosting a Newport RFC Carol Service at St Woolos Cathedral. It goes without saying that all are welcome The service starts at 7.30pm and then, on December 15th is the Newport RFC Christmas dinner in the Bisley Suite at Rodney Parade. Tickets are £20 each and feature a hot Christmas meal and an afternoon of entertainment, apparently including music from a band featuring Kevin Moseley! Please contact the club to book!
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Henry Palmer
Final Score – Newport RFC 31 Carmarthen Quins 2