Saturday 21st December 2024

Regional 1 North West

Newport 38

Leek 36

Leek was agonisingly edged out with a penalty goal as the last play in a thriller at the old Showground, where even the home support agreed, Leek should have won.

In another turnaround from the early season fixture which saw Newport hand Leek a thrashing at Altrad Park, this was an entirely different affair, with the resurgent Moorlanders squad giving a determined display in atrocious conditions for the first 60 minutes by which time they had the home side at 21-31 and heading for defeat, before ill discipline in the final 10 minutes left Leek with 12 players on the pitch and unable to hold on.

Two unavailabilities meant youngster Christian Tattum started on the wing with Josh Nadin and Jack Newton Taylor making up the back 3. Rob McDermott and Joe Byrne were at half back and Joe Gorman with Will Midwinter in the centre.
Ed Cheadle was back as Lewis Dunleavy was unavailable and Ollie Powell moved to prop with skipper Joe Newton Taylor. Joel Hine and Joel Booth were at lock and Tom Hayes, George Hunt and Brenig Hughes made up the back row.
Will Hill, Luke Hardern and Anton Davidson made up the bench.

Leek won the toss and chose to play up bank and against the strong wind with rain in the first half. Not surprisingly, Newport started off quickly and in determined fashion, running the ball from all areas of the park. They had scored two tries on 6 minutes and 11 minutes, both converted after pressure in the Leek 22. 14-0.
At the 2nd restart, Jack Newton Taylor rose to retrieve the ball for Leek and momentum shifted into the Newport 22 as the Leek forwards got into the game and battered the defence allowing McDermott and Byrne to combine for the scrum half to score Leek’s first try. Will Midwinter converted and it was 14-7 on 14 minutes.
Leek defended stoutly then before losing the ball in midfield on 33 minutes and the home backs quickly created an overlap for their 3rd try which was converted. 21-7.
Again, from the kick off Jack Newton Taylor retrieved the ball. This time as Newport knocked on in the catch. Advantage played, Leek’s forwards set about driving deep towards the home goal line where Joel Hine crashed over for the try. The conversion missed but Leek was holding on at 21-12. They held the line for the remainder of the half and with a deficit of only 9 points, it was all to play for at the beginning of the 2nd half.

The 2nd half started exactly as leek would have wanted with a first minute try from Joe Byrne in the right corner after a superb counter ruck outside Newport’s 22. The conversion failed. 21-17.
On 48 minutes, Jack Newton Taylor put Leek in front for the first time after a superb break by the Leek backs on the right. Midwinter’s conversion was good, and Leek led 21-24.
On 51 minutes, with Leek in control, an alert Joe Byrne caught Newport asleep at the lineout. A quick throw to Joel Hine saw the youngster crash over for his 2nd try and Leek led to 21-31.
5 minutes later and Newport steadied the ship with a superb break in the backs and a score under the posts. The conversion meant Leek were pegged back to 28-31.
On 60 minutes, the tremendously hard working Joel Hine scored his 3rd try of the day, after Newport attempted to run the ball in their own 22. The ball richoted off the receiver and straight to Joel, who took a defender over the line with him to increase the Leek lead to 21-36. The conversion just failed.
As the final quarter was underway, Newport scored again through their backs as they weaved through the stretched defence and under the posts on 67 minutes. 35-36.
It was a one point game and Leek needed to use the natural advantages for the final 13 minutes to close out the win.
Alas, it didn’t work out like that with the Moorlanders given 3 yellow cards on 77(high tackle), 79(chat back) and 83 minutes(offside), yet still the home side couldn’t breach the heroic defence. Penalties came thick and fast, finally the decision was taken for a shot at goal with the last play and just shy of in front of goal, a cool head kicked the 3 points to give Newport an unlikely win.

The Moorlanders outscored their hosts by 6 tries to 5, as they gained another 2 points. Their season now moves into 2025 with January seeing them with 3 home games and away trip to top of the table Rossendale sandwiched in the middle.
Birkenhead Park gained a point at Rossendale as their new players make an impression and Kendal won a point at Blackburn. Penrith also won a point at home to Manchester but Stoke lost without a point at Anselmians.

The 2s had an emphatic win over Newcastle 2s, inflicting a successive defeat on their local rivals by 35-0 and move into 2nd place on 49 points with Uttoxeter in 3rd on the same points. Barton maintains top spot on 53 points.

Time for a rest now and may we wish all players, members, sponsors and their families and friends a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year.

January 4th v Wirral at home KO 2.15
January 11th v Rossendale away KO 2.15
January 18th v Blackburn at home KO 2.15
January 25th v Stockport at home KO 2.15 – this is the postponed game being played.