Poor start to season continues
Oct 3 – Newport were beaten again by Swansea 24-14 last night at Dunvant as their poor run continues. Newport were 10-nil down at half time but recovered quickly with tries for Cerrig Smith and Dai Richards both converted by Jac Lloyd. Swansea regained the lead from a rolling maul and scored again as Newport attacked late in the game.
Black and Amber’s title hopes dashed already?
Sep 27 – Newport’s hopes of retaining their league title look very remote after they failed again at home to Swansea. The Whites ran out 42-40 winners at Newport Stadium as the home side let their advantage slip in a display lacking in discipline. Newport had a sixteen point lead in the first half but threw it away as Swansea finished strongly edging the match with a Josh Phillips penalty. Newport scored tries via Richards, Welch, Langley (2), Williams and Buckland with five conversions from Jac Lloyd.
Newport fight back but still fail at Aberavon
Sep 20 – Two games in and Newport are without a win despite their spirited fightback at Aberavon. The Black and Ambers could not recover from a poor opening but did salvage some respect with two bonus points in a 28-24 defeat at the Talbot Athletic Ground. They conceded eighteen unanswered points in the first half. Fin Baker broke through to score and Lloyd converted to make it 18-7 on 43 minutes before the Wizards scored again to cancel out Newport’s score. Baker scored again on 61 minutes before Aberavon made 28-12 with a penalty. Newport finished with a late flourish with tries by Chay Foster-Smith and Morgan Williams, the former converted by Harrison James.
Disappointing start for Newport
Sep 13 – Llandovery proved too strong, running out 27-20 winners in a disappointing start to Newport’s campaign at Newport Stadium. The Drovers forwards were the difference in the second half as they dominated the set piece and comfortably dealt with the Newport eight. Newport started well with a Finn Baker try and a converted Josh Skinner try, Carwyn Penny adding the conversion and a penalty to give them a 15-5 lead. The Drovers hit back with tries either side of half time to take a 17-15 lead increasing their advantage to nine points with a converted Cameron Lewis effort. The loss of Ben Roach depleted the Black and Amber forwards but Newport rallied at the close with a Barney Nightingale score to take a losing bonus point.
Newport win in Bristol
Aug 30 – Newport concluded their pre season campaign with a 31-19 win at Dings Crusaders. Newport’s tries came from Baker, Lewis, Williams, Rees and Welch. Two were converted by Harrison James, one by Carwyn Penny.
Black and Ambers outclassed
Aug 16 – Newport were defeated for the first time since March 1 in this friendly fixture in London. English League one side Rosslyn Park ran out 36-14 victors at Priory Lane. Newport conceded 19 points before getting a score on the board. Two tries by Jonny Morrison converted by Harrison James made it 19-14 at the interval. Rosslyn Park came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half extending their lead to 31-14 with two further tries.
Newport ease past Ponty
Aug 9 – Newport started their season with a comfortable 29-10 victory in the pre-season friendly at Sardis Road over Pontypridd. They opened the scoring after 16 minutes with a Noah Morgan try converted by Carwyn Perry. Ponty hit back with a try. Just after the half time break Newport extended their lead with a Finley Baker try. After a long period of stalemate Iwan Prys Jones added another Newport try converted by Llew O’Brien. Ponty reduced the deficit before O’Brien added a converted try to complete the victory.
Newport draw short straw at Christmas as new fixtures published
Jun 25 – The new season fixtures are out but champions Newport have been done few favours by the WRU with prime Christmas fixtures at home and away to RGC in North Wales on December 20 and 27! Bizarrely they have been paired with RGC and Carmarthen again in the Cup competition.
Their pre-season fixtures include trips to Pontypridd (Aug 9) Rosslyn Park (Aug 16) and Dings Crusaders (August 30). There is no home friendly as yet.
The cup competition will involve the Welsh Super Cymru sides only. Newport’s fixtures are as follows – Jan 24 Carmarthen (A) Jan 31 Pontypool (H) Feb 7 Cardiff (A) Feb 14 RGC (H). Cup semi finals are on 28 February with the final on March 7.
Frewen retires
June 10 – A mainstay of the the last thirteen seasons at Rodney Parade, Elliot Frewen, has announced his retirement. The 38 year old maintained the tradition of throwing his boots into the Usk to mark the occasion.
He signed for Newport in 2011 from Tonmawr and scored many dazzling tries for the Black and Ambers. According to club records he scored 96 tries in 245 appearances. Most of his games were played either on the wing or at full back.
Frewen was a fine sevens player, winning man of the tournament as Newport Gwent Dragons beat Wasps to win the Premiership Rugby 7s in England. His performance brought him selection for Wales in the World Rugby Sevens.
Stalwart forward Rhys Jenkins retired following Newport’s championship win at the age of 34 having come on as a replacement in the final game. He captained Newport for four consecutive seasons and joined the Black and Ambers in 2010 from Ebbw Vale.
Newport win League championship
May 18 – Newport crowned their 150th year with a hard fought win in the Super-Rygby Cymru play off final at Ebbw Vale. The Black and Ambers secured their first league title in 21 years by outplaying Ebbw on their own patch, running out 27-18 winners.
The conditions were perfect for open, attacking rugby and very much favoured Newport’s style of play. However, Newport’s forwards also negated Ebbw throughout the match and stifled their mauling game.
Despite conceding an initial penalty score Newport equalised through a Jac Lloyd penalty and then moved ahead on 20 minutes after patient forward drives led to a Dafydd Buckland touch down. Lloyd converted. Evan Lloyd’s penalty for Ebbw reduced Newport’s advantage to four points before Jac Lloyd’s sidestepped his way over from close range just prior to half time, he converted to make it 17-6 to the Black and Ambers.
On 48 minutes Evan Bowden scored out wide after an Evan Lloyd cross kick to bring Ebbw back into it at 17-11. But Newport responded again when a speculative kick from Carwyn Penny bounced awkwardly back into his own hands and he outpaced the defence to score. Jac Lloyd converted impressively from the touch line to make it 24-11.
A defensive error by Newport gifted Ebbw a try, converted by Evan Lloyd to make 24-18. Newport pressed back with Jac Lloyd extending the lead by kicking a penalty. With 64 minutes played Iestyn Galton sped away to score for Newport only for his try to be disallowed for a Jac Lloyd forward pass.
Ebbw hit back and when Josh Skinner was yellow carded with seven minutes to play they reverted to type, mauling towards the Newport line only to be denied a try as Jac Lloyd held up the ball over the try line. Newport contained Ebbw after that to score a famous victory.