Ireland dominate at Rodney Parade
Apr 21 – Ireland proved too strong for Wales as the Women’s Six Nations rolled into Newport on Sunday. The Welsh team started strongly as Ireland squandered a number of opportunities. Cox opened the scoring with a try after a kick through from George, Bevan converted. Despite another flurry from Wales it was a fitter Ireland who dominated, winning the penalty count. Tries from Djougang and Waffer converted by O’Brien put them 14-7 up. Ireland’s fly-half was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Alex Callender. Ireland added two more during this period and completely dominated the second half (Djougang, Waffer and Wall – 2, adding tries, 1 converted by O’Brien, 2 by Breen ).Bluck got a consolation for Wales converted by Bevan, in an otherwise disappointing performance. Despite this, a great occasion at Rodney Parade, with a buoyant crowd and festival atmosphere.
Cycle speedway season under way
Mar 26 – Newport may have lost its speedway team fifteen years ago but it still retains two very active cycle speedway teams.Formed in 1975 Newport Cycle Speedway is based at the Velodrome site with its track near the front of the main building on Velodrome Way under the stewardship of local legend Colin Simmons. Their first home match is against Poole on April 6. East Newport Cycle Speedway are based at Larch Grove, Llanmartin. They opened their season on March 8 with a home win over Norwich by 96-84. They run weekly sessions for youngsters from age 6 upwards. The two sides face each other at the Velodrome on June 20th!
Alix Popham seeks to highlight rugby’s head injury crisis
Feb 18 – Former Newport hero Alix Popham states he can no longer remember his rugby career due to head injuries he sustained on the field of play. The former Welsh international was diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 40.
CTE is a progressive brain condition that is thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion. Popham told the BBC Newsnight programme “My neurologist, when he diagnosed me, they worked out I had over 100,000 sub-concussive hits in my brain.”
He is calling on World Rugby to end its fight in the courts with former players, 560 of whom are seeking legal redress against the sport’s governing bodies. His wife Mel told the BBC “We had everything going for us. We’d recently got married, had Darcy, living in a house we loved and our world was just changing. It was really frightening.”
World Rugby told the BBC that player welfare was their number one priority, with the recently introduced 20-minute red card punishment being implemented as a trial. The new provision was criticised by a brain expert, Willie Stewart, he stated it ‘places the spectacle of the game ahead of player’s brains”.
Alix and Mel have helped found charity Head for Change, set up to support ex-rugby players and ex-footballers affected by neurodegenerative disease as a result of their careers.
Newport hammer Bridgend
Aug 13 – Newport maintained their charge for the Premier League title with a 133 run victory over Bridgend in a match restricted to 36 overs. They amassed 218/4 thanks to a Morgan Bevans century (109 not out) and an unbeaten 64 from Imran Hassan. Bridgend were bowled out for 85 in 23 overs, Michael Clayden taking 4 for 15.
Newport complete double over Swansea to go top
Aug 6 – Newport beat Swansea for a second time this season to go 16 points clear at the top of the South Wales Premier League. In an exciting match at Spytty Park Callum Taylor (102);and Morgan Bevans (76) led Newport home with a fantastic partnership , Taylor hitting a 4 and 6 to win the match and to take him to his century.
Newport end Swansea’s unbeaten run
June 25 – Newport ended Swansea’s unbeaten run with a fine 24 run victory at St.Helen’s. Newport scored 240 aided by a superb 94 from Michael Clayden. Swansea got close but fell away ending on 216, Aberwardena had figures of 4-30, Ilyas 3-53. Newport are now third on 107 points, Swansea dropped to second on 110, new leaders St Fagan’s have 111 points.
Newports hosts major cycle speedway events
Jun 5 - England took the honours as Newport hosted a highly competitive day of international racing on Sunday. The main internationals at the Velodrome saw England win men’s, junior’s and veterans events. In the men’s event Newport’s Ben Mould starred but overall England were too strong.
The scoring was as follows -
- England – 75 (Aaron Smith 16, Ben Clarke 15, Chris Timms 15, Josh Brooke 15, Zac Payne 14)
- Wales - 65 (Ben Mould 15, Mark Carmichael 14, Dan Bock 12, Wil Bristowe 12, Adam Bennett 12)
- Scotland 31 4. Ireland 27
In the women’s regional pairs the North and Scotland were victorious with the South and South Wales finishing second. In a separate Battle of Britain event at East of Newport cycle speedway in Underwood the South and South West took the honours beaten North and Scotland.
Newport lose to Cardiff in high scoring season opener
Apr 29 – Cardiff beat Newport by four wickets in a high scoring season opener at Spytty Park. Newport scored 258 from their 50 overs with a fine 112 from opener Harry Friend the highlight. Henry Hurle scored an unbeaten 80 as Cardiff made it with just two balls to spare.
Local rugby round up
Apr 29 – In WRU 2 East Caerleon lost at Cwmbran 24-17, Newport HSOB lost at home to Caldicot 15-30 and Pill Harriers were hammered 65-0 at home by leaders Talywain. In 4 East Newport Saracens won 20-0 at New Tredegar and Whiteheads overcame St Julian’s 38-26. In 5 East leaders Bettws beat Beaufort 47-8. In 6 East Magor beat Cwmcarn by 38-17
Local rugby round up
Apr 22 – The Dragons beat Scarlets at Cardiff 31-14. In WRU 2 East Pill lost 38-31 at Blackwood and Newport HSOB lost 31-5 at Ynysddu. In East 4 Newport Saracens won 20-17 at Panteg, Whitehead lost 23-7 at Fleur de Lys and St Julian’s picked up a losing bonus point going down 21-14 to Bedwellty. In East 5 Bettws stretched their lead at the top with a 23-17 win at Hollybush. In East 6 Hartridge lost 20-0 at Forgeside, Magor won 67-17 at Girlings.
Local rugby round up
Apr 15 – In WRU East 2 Caerleon went down 12-20 to Caldicot and Newport HSOB lost 21-34 at home to Talywain. In East 4 Newport Saracens hammered Hafodyrynys 52-7 at home but St Julians HSOB suffered a big defeat , 76-12, at Chepstow. In East 6 Magor beat Trefil 20 to nil.
Newport set for Marathon on Sunday
The ABP Newport Wales Marathon & 10K will take place on Sunday 16 April 2023.
The popular race is a firm favourite in the Welsh running calendar, boasting one of the flattest marathon courses in the UK. Over 70% of all finishers have claimed a PB on a route that offers iconic landmarks, like the city’s Transporter Bridge and the stunning scenery of the Gwent Levels – with its coastal wildlife and picturesque medieval villages.
The fast and fun supporting 10K race, which attracts some of the UK’s top athletes, gives runners of all abilities the opportunity to get involved in the festival of running, without committing to the challenging 26.2-mile distance.
Information for city residents including road closures are given here
Cycle Speedway action gets under way
Apr 8 – Cycle speedway action gets under way next week at the front of the Velodrome as Newport take on Birmingham in the National League.
The meeting takes place at the Sports Village on Sunday 16 April at 4.30pm
Local rugby round up
Apr 8 – In WRU East 2 there were big defeats for Newport sides – Pill went down 78-7 at Abergavenny, Caerleon by 94-0 to Ynysddu. Newport HSOB won 14-12 at Blackwood. In East 4 Newport Saracens won 56-7 at Blackwood All Stars, Whiteheads beat Bedwellty 27-22 but St Julian’s went down 29-22 at home to New Panteg. In East 5 promotion chasing Bettws beat Pontllanfraith 28-14.
Local rugby round up
Apr 1 – In the European Challenge Cup the Dragons are away at Glasgow this evening. Meanwhile, in the afternoon’s rugby Caerleon were trounced 71-5 at home by second placed Talywain. In WRU East 6 Magor won 30-20 at Trefil. All other fixtures were postponed.
Latest – the Dragons lost 73-33.
Local rugby round up
Mar 25 – In the URC the Dragons went down to a comprehensive 37-18 defeat to the Ospreys at Swansea. In League 2 East improving Newport HSOB beat leaders Abergavenny 14-12 at Bailey Park to move within reach of third place Ynysddu. Pill Harriers beat Oakdale 45-7 but Caerleon went down 10-3 at Blackwood. In League 4 East promotion chasing Whiteheads beat New Panteg 32-29.
Local rugby round up
Mar 4 – In League 4 East Whiteheads won at Blackwood Stars 29-10, St Julian’s lost at home to Nantyglo 57-16. In League 5 East Bettws moved into the promotion spot with a 22-10 victory at Crickhowell in only their fifth game of the season. In 6 East Hartridge lost at home to Forgeside by 41 to 17.
Local rugby round up
Feb 18 – In East Division 2 Pill beat Cwmbran 20-17, Newport HSOB won at Oakdale 45-7, Caerleon went down 38-5 at leaders Abergavenny. In East Division 6 Magor went down 15-12 at home to Hartridge.
McGoldrick makes Newport boxing history
Feb 11 – Sean McGoldrick became the first Newport boxer for 40 years to win a British title. McGoldrick emulated the achievement of David Pearce by beating Scott Allan to win the bantamweight title at Cardiff on a majority decision.
Glasgow too strong for Dragons
Jan 28 – Glasgow Warriors proved too strong for the Dragons at Rodney Parade. The Scottish side won 42-21 having led the game throughout. The Dragons scored three converted tries from Rhodri Williams, Tomlinson and Balham.
Local rugby round up
Jan 28 – In the Newport derby in League 2 East Pill Harriers hammered Caerleon 36-0, Newport HSOB went down 27-25 at Croesyceiliog. In League 4 East third placed Whiteheads went down 18-3 at Nantyglo. There were wins for Newport Saracens and St Julian’s HSOB. In League 6 East Hartridge lost 26-19 at home to leaders Abersychan. Magor won at Old Tyleryans by 28-14.
Dragons beaten by Lions
Jan 23 – The Dragons retrieved a significant deficit but finally went down to South African side the Lions by 30 to 25 in the Heineken Cup. The match was moved from Rodney Parade to Ystrad Mynach due to a frozen pitch in Newport. The crowd was restricted to season ticket holder so consequently was very small. Dragons led with an early Reed try but the all weather pitch proved no barrier to the Lions who scored tries through Horn and van der Merwe and a succession of penalties from Hendrikse. The Dragons hit back in the second half with tries from Sieuli, Jordan Williams and Dyer. They still go through to the last 16 where they face Glasgow away on the weekend March 31 to April 2.
Local rugby round up
Jan 16 – In the only match involving a Newport team this weekend in League 2 East Pill Harriers went down 52-14 at Ynysddu. All other games were postponed.
Local football round up
Jan 16 – in the Ardal League South East the two Newport teams clashed at Newport Stadium on Friday with Newport City emerging victorious over Lliswerry by 3 goals to 2. Newport City remain in the bottom two. In the Gwent Premier League Pill are well placed in third place a point behind rivals who have played three or four matches more. They won 3-2 on Saturday at Cwmbran Celtic.