Newport RFC v Swansea RFC – 14th December 2024 by John Evans
If there’s one team that has consistently proved to be a thorn in the Newport side, it has been Swansea. Whilst one might think that the Newport team looks better on paper, the Whites usually find a way to produce a rabbit from the hat at some point during the game and surprise the Black & Ambers. Now, while it’s true that Newport have had the upper hand in recent seasons, they have always had to work hard, dig deep, and grind out a result. They have also had to grit their teeth and close out a few very close-run games over recent years, too.
Ty Morris shuffled the pack again, welcoming back the bruising centre that is Harri Ackerman to the Black & Amber fold. Harri sustained a nasty injury while with the Dragons so, hopefully, his journey back to full fitness is nearly complete. Let’s just hope, for selfish reasons, that the Dragons don’t ask for him back too soon!
It was a cool, dry day at Newport Stadium, minimal breeze, so conditions looked near perfect for a good, open game of rugby.
Will Reed kicked off for Newport, with the Black & Ambers attacking the Cricket Club end of the ground. Swansea full back Max Nagy put in a long kick, but Ben Roach managed to break the line, running back at the defence. Luke Crane made a dart forward, Dai Richards carried the move on, but Will Reed’s grubber kick for Elliot Frewen to chase evaded the winger and bobbled into touch.
A fine rip of the ball by Joe Peard stymied a Swansea attack, Newport going wide quickly before Carwyn Penny’s long kick, prompting makeshift wing Chay Foster-Smith to reach top gear in pursuit, but this kick also bobbled into touch. However, Swansea had lost 50 metres in just under ten seconds.
The Whites, playing in their change strip of dark blue on this occasion, were determined to prove that they weren’t just here for a jolly, or to roll over and give Newport the points. They were flying into tackles, battling for everything. Dai Richards managed to jink past three defenders before Barney Langton-Cryer took the reins, scattering blue shirts as he went. Will Reed broke right, finding Carwyn Penny outside, but he couldn’t capitalise as he passed to touch believing he had someone nursing the touchline.
The visitors kept the tempo high, flinging the ball around with purpose, but unable to really progress as the Black & Amber defensive wall did its job effectively.
Swansea conceded a penalty on 11 minutes, at the game’s first scrum. Will Reed’s monster kick placed Newport about 7 metres from the Swansea line, terrace side. Ben Roach took the lineout catch, setting up a rolling maul which nudged forward gently before Wade Langley, ball clamped to his chest, could drop down over the line to open the scoring. That made the score Newport 5 Swansea 0 with 12 minutes played.
A sustained Swansea attack came to nothing as the ball was left unprotected at the base of a ruck, prompting Nathan Evans to step across, pick it up and initiate a retort. Will Reed kicked long, Max Nagy doing well to take the catch, but was let down by his teammates as they went off their feet at the ensuing ruck. Will Reed went to the corner again, but Newport couldn’t take advantage as Swansea modified their lineout defence and stopped the rolling maul before it could take shape.
Swansea were penalised again on 18 minutes, Newport spreading the ball from the lineout in the corner. Harri Ackerman blasted into contact, Josh Skinner drew a few more defenders in before Barney Langton-Cryer crossed the line. Unfortunately, he lost control of the ball as he went to ground, and Swansea were off the hook.
Newport were working hard to break the thin blue line but were helped by a massive slice of luck when Will Reed’s grubber kick through the centre of the field appeared to be well covered by the Whites. However, the saying “never let a rugby ball bounce” couldn’t be truer; it cruelly evaded the defender, Elliot Frewen scooping the ball up and sprinting for the line. He was caught, but an easy pop pass to Luke Crane made sure that Newport extended their lead. Will Reed kicked the conversion to make it Newport 12 Swansea 0 on 22 minutes.
From the restart, Kyle Tayler carried hard, deep into Swansea territory. He set up the ruck, but Dai Richards was clattered as he received the ball in the centre. Newport kept pushing, changing tack as Swansea gathered on the left. Dai Richards had looped around taking the pass before managing to hold onto it in a fashion that he probably couldn’t do again if he tried! The ball seemed to joggle in his grasp before he effectively looped it around his waist before making an efficient pass to Will Reed who scampered across to score. He converted his own try to make the score Newport 19 Swansea 0 on 25 minutes.
A high tackle in defence cost Newport a penalty, prompting Swansea to go to the corner themselves. Second row Ben Roberts took the catch at the tail of the lineout. The rolling maul set and eased forward before a plethora of backs joined in, a la Neath in the 1980s. It was left to flanker Geraint Powell to claim the try, outside half Josh Phillips adding the two-pointer to make it Newport 19 Swansea 7.
A 33rd minute penalty to Newport was squandered following hard work by the forwards. The ball was knocked on before Joe Peard stumbled and was trapped offside, allowing Swansea a relieving penalty.
Tempers frayed on 38 minutes as Josh Skinner and Swansea’s Ben Roberts got a little bit over-emotional. The referee, Mr Rhys Jones, had a firm word with the two miscreants before showing the yellow card to both, inviting them to the naughty step for 10 minutes.
Swansea over-threw a lineout, Luke Crane claiming the loose ball. Harri Ackerman flew into contact. Will Reed kicked to the corner but Swansea were aggressive in defence. The ball stayed in play, Dai Richards stepping through tackles like a champ, and he was almost through to score, but his miracle pass out was intercepted by Swansea’s Harri Williams. The Whites kicked long, Elliot Frewen fielding the ball under pressure. Once secure, Will Reed kicked to the corner for Frewen to chase, but the ball bounced away from the flying wing, bringing to an end a breathless passage of play and an intriguing half of rugby.
Half Time: Newport RFC 19 Swansea RFC 7
Scott Davies replaced Joe Peard at halftime, Josh Skinner moving forward to the second row.
Josh Phillips restarted the game, and it was evident that Swansea had been reorganised by their coaching team. They worked the margins, and it didn’t take long to make a breakthrough; about 45 seconds actually. Replacement wing Lewis Edwards was on the end of a simple pass to cross in the corner. The conversion by Josh Phillips was successful making the score Newport 19 Swansea 14 with 41 minutes played.
Harry Fry joined the party as Tom Workman made his way to the bench, and instantly Fry was in the thick of a defensive effort as Ben Roach was pinged for not supporting his own weight at a tackle. Swansea went to the corner, won the lineout, but their rolling maul stalled at the line. The Whites battered the channels, and it was Max Nagy who managed to get the point of the ball onto the white line sufficiently to be awarded a try. Josh Phillips added the conversion to make it Newport 19 Swansea 21 on 49 minutes.
Game on. Time for the Bomb Squad.
Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Ioan Davies, and Jac Lloyd were sent on for Wade Langley, Nathan Evans, Carwyn Penny, and Harri Ackerman as the floodlights seemed brighter against the increasing gloom of the evening.
Newport were penalised at a 55th minute scrum, Swansea kicking deep again, but the ferocious Black & Amber defence put paid to any Swansea ambitions of extending their lead.
Josh Skinner pickpocketed the Swansea lineout on the hour, setting Harry Fry careering off into contact. Will Reed kicked through, but Josh Skinner pushed wing Ieuan Cornelius to touch to claim a terrific attacking position for Newport. Unfortunately, Ben Roberts repaid the favour, disrupting Newport and making Henry Palmer retreat in defence.
Geraint Powell, the Whites’ 6, was penalised on 64 minutes at a ruck. Will Reed placed Newport in the corner. Ben Roach took the lineout ball before Luke Crane played on. Dai Richards seemed through before the door slammed shut in his face. Newport, playing with an advantage, gave Elliot Frewen too much to do as he was asked to beat 4 Swansea defenders in the space of a phone box. Mr Jones came back for the penalty and Newport opted to scrum. It nudged forward, wheeled, and Mr Jones’ arm went in Newport’s favour again. The scrum reset, similar result. Mr Jones’ arm went out a second time. The scrum reset, similar result, but Mr Jones had seen enough, ran under the crossbar and awarded Newport a penalty try. This made it Newport 26 Swansea 21 on 70 minutes, and the Black & Ambers had the try-scoring bonus point in the bag.
Swansea won a scrum penalty on the halfway line, kicking long to gain position. They tried to impose themselves, but met with a well of Newport resistance, culminating in Garin Harris stepping across the back of a ruck to claim unguarded ball, winning a penalty as he did so.
Logan Franklin replaced Luke Crane for the closing minutes, as Swansea infringed again. Will Reed kicked to the corner. Newport played away from the lineout, Harry Fry rumbling forward. Josh Skinner burst into attack and Dai Richards twinkle-toed his way around defenders before being snared. Logan Franklin switched the play to
the right. Jac Lloyd created space, Dai Richards found a pass out to Chay Foster-Smith who, under pressure, powered his way to the corner flag and managed to dot down. Mr Jones took a second to process what he had seen, but a nod from his Assistant and the try was awarded. Will Reed kicked the conversion from wide out on the touchline to make it Newport 33 Swansea 21 with the regulation 80 minutes nearly up.
Swansea’s restart didn’t go the 10-metres, so Newport had a scrum over the centre spot. Newport soon shipped a penalty, though, prompting Swansea to go to the corner again. Ben Roberts claimed the throw, but Swansea’s attempted 15-man maul splintered, and it was Kyle Tayler who came away with the ball. The Black & Ambers worked their way up to midfield before, frustratingly, conceding again. Swansea positioned themselves again, but fluffed their lines by jumping across the gap, Mr Jones quickly spotting that. Newport, however, seemed determined to keep defending as they conceded yet again. With a last roll of the dice, Swansea went to the corner again but, this time, the 15-man maul worked, and hooker Jamie Cox was the last man up off the floor. Josh Phillips kicked the conversion to make the final score Newport 33 Swansea 28 with 89 minutes played, the Whites earning themselves a valuable bonus point for their bravery.
Newport RFC are next in action on Sunday 22nd December, when we make the short journey down the A48 to visit our friends at Cardiff RFC. Kick off is at 4.45pm. The
Blue & Blacks then pay us a visit at Newport Stadium on Saturday December 28th. Both of these fixtures are Super Rygbi Cymru games. Lastly, please note that the away SRC fixture at Llandovery on January 4th has been rescheduled to the more sensible time of 2.30pm.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Dai Richards
Final Score – Newport RFC 33 Swansea RFC 28