Newport (S)…………31
O Redcliffians……..37
This was a thriller from start to finish with both teams looking to play quick, expansive rugby at every opportunity.
Newport were first on the board, with Chris Perry ghosting through the Reds defence. After 17 minutes the impressive Jalen Curry levelled things.
With ten minutes of the half remaining, George Boughey was binned and Newport leaked two tries by Samuel Rees and Joseph Ellis, both converted by Jack Gapper for the Reds to lead 19-5 at the break.
They increased their advantage ten minutes into the second half when crossed and Gapper converted.
But in front of the biggest crowd of the season, Newport dug deep. First, Tom Cowell was on the end of hard yards by Matt Hubbart and Rhys Morgan, before Perry danced through for his second. Now brimming with confidence the ball was spun wide for Jack Ingram to score his first senior try.
At 24-26 Reds opted to kick a penalty after 67 minutes, only for Castledine to score a superb individual effort, which he converted himself. A tense final ten minutes ensued but Newport could not hold on to their slender lead, and Reds added a penalty through Gapper before Curry added his second to seal the contest.
TEAMS
NEWPORT (S): Bailey, Gamble, Perry, Yeoward, Brough, Castledine, Adams, Wells, Cowell, O’Neill, Boughey, Hubbart, Kent, Barnes, Taylor
Replacements: Morgan, Meek, Galbraith, Raqio, Ingram
OLD REDCLIFFIANS: Murphy, Halpin, Cook, Sprague, Rees, Groves, Butler, Harvey A, Ford, Joseph, Doyle, Harvey E, Farmer, Curry, Thurston
Replacements: Gwilliam, Gaynor, Broom, Gapper, Fogerty
REFEREE: Peter Connor
ATTENDANCE: 450
Star man
Jalen Curry – Old Redcliffians
