Barnstaple produce a slick late showpiece
Barnstaple…….29
Newport (S)……. 3
A slick second-half performance from Barnstaple saw them prevail against Newport, the contest suffering from the rain and wind prevalent in North Devon.
A turgid opening 40 minutes was probably only appreciated by the purists – and there weren’t made hardy souls in attendance at Pottington Road – with neither side able to build up any rhythm or consistency.
With both sides still very much in the relegation shake-up, there were nerves aplenty and that was another ingredient, perhaps, in the lack of a sense of bravery in offence.
Jacob Leonard kicked the visitors into a lead from the tee and it proved to be their only points on a miserable afternoon for Bob Adam’s charges.
Winger William Topps scored Barnstaple’s first try just three minutes later, but they had to wait another 40 before they could put daylight between the sides.
TEAMS
BARNSTAPLE: Roberts, Topps, Murphy, Carter, Clark, Gordon-Oke, Gosling, Snell, Bayet, Crouch, Patrick, Hilton, Gohl, Kelly, Moore. Replacements: , Subs, Robson, Dromantas, Elworthy, Hookway, Lee. NEWPORT (S): Bailey, Himbury, Perry, Leonard, de Jager, Castledine, Adams, Grass, Raqio, O’Neill, Hubbart, Murphy, Buckley, Kent, Taylor. Replacements: Wells, Cowell, Boughey, Goulson, Gamble,
REFEREE: J Milliner-Woodcock ATTENDANCE: 200
Star man Brandon Moore -Barnstaple
Brandon Moore and Ash Crouch scored within ten minutes of each other as Barnstaple’s muscle men exerted their dominance up front, Newport handicapped numerically as Josh Kent saw yellow.
Moore added his second from close quarters as the hosts threw everything at claiming a valuable bonus-point win, Dan Robson adding some sheen to the scoreboard right at the death with their fifth try, converted by Jacob Murphy.
The win creeps Barnstaple up to tenth place in the table, four points above Newport.
