Regional Two Midlands West

Whitchurch 10 Newent RFC 39

LEAGUE leaders Newent overcame a determined Whitchurch side to make it 11 wins from 11, writes Simon Barker.

In their first game in four weeks, they retained their composure to triumph 39-10 despite three game-ending injuries and a trio of yellow cards.

They opened the scoring after seven minutes, crisp handling putting Kyle Towers in the right-hand corner after Jack Devries had been held up.

Tom Webb’s conversion attempt was wide of the mark in a rare off day with the boot.

A penalty 20m out, and in front of the posts, then allowed the hosts to take three points.

Newent’s blindside Jim Hartland was then shown what seemed a harsh yellow card, after being adjudged to have charged down a kick from an offside position.

Scrum-half Dylan Leney joined him on the naughty step, for a high tackle as Whitchurch ran the ball out after Newent’s Mason Emery was held up just short following a lineout 15m from the whitewash.

Despite being two men light, Newent made no mistake from another close-range penalty lineout – Ben Vincent peeling off the drive to make it 10-3.

Their defence also proved effective next holding up the ball carrier on the line from a tapped penalty.

A penalty won at a scrum on the Shropshire side’s put-in allowed Webb to return the ball where a multi-phased attack and more crisp handling ended with Towers crossing for his second try in the right corner.

Newent’s right-wing then thought he had his hat-trick in the same corner, as he finished a counter-attack initiated by Doug Long from deep in his own 22.

But the try of the season contender was chalked off when Newent’s touch judge Phil Brooks raised his flag to indicate a foot over the sideline.

Phil’s son Nathan crossed wide on the left after more slick handling through the backs for a 20-3 lead, and the bonus point.

But Jack Devries then got into a disagreement which earned him Newent’s third yellow card just before the break.

In the second row’s absence, the opening minutes of the second half were uncomfortable for the Green Army, and it took an immense defensive effort to keep their line intact.

The seven-man pack held firm at a five-metre scrum, forcing Whitchurch to run the ball, followed by a try-saving tackle on big inside centre Nathan Horton and a knock-on in front of the posts.

With Devries restored to the ranks, Webb’s long clearance was well chased by Adrian Connelly to win a line-out 30m out.

Ben Vincent carried hard, Webb took it on and Connelly showed neat footwork to finish well in the left corner for 25-3.

Eventually the hosts were rewarded with a well-taken try for No 8 Jake Rees, converted by James Marvell to make it 25-10.

But the kicker was then yellow carded for a late tackle as Newent attacked 15m out.

Opting to scrum, Webb set up Will Hartland for a good finish wide on the left and Doug Long added the extras.

Hartland then released Connelly for another classy finish in the left-hand corner, with Long’s conversion from the touchline the final play of an entertaining game.

Meanwhile, Ross RFC enjoyed their biggest win in a long while, thumping Bristol visitors Aretians 58-0 in Counties 4 Tribute – a great way to sign off for Christmas.