Fishes score a perfect opener

The result already looked beyond doubt by half-time as the Shropshire side, looking to build on last year's fourth place finish, went in with a commanding 34-7 advantage.

The first try of the season was scored by Alex Bristow off a driving maul and he soon added a second, with Jamie Simpson converting one and scoring with a penalty too.

Two tries for forward Simon Bell and one for Chris Taylor, two of which were converted, rounded off the first half.

Paul Buttery was next to go over 15 minutes into the second period and then the floodgates opened.

New signing Neil Weston completed a hat-trick of tries in just 12 minutes before Newbold scored a consolation, but there was no reprieve as Newport added four more.

Buttery got his second of the afternoon and Ben Warrilow and Steffen Brotherton got in on the act before Weston got his fourth. Tom Eaton kicked one conversion.

Coach Ginge Wills was delighted with what he saw, declaring: "Having worked on a number of areas during the week, it was very satisfying to see the players reproduce the plays we had practiced almost perfectly."

Bridgnorth found life somewhat tougher on their introduction to life at this level, going down to a 30-5 defeat at Coventry-based Barker Butts.

Last year's Midlands 3 play-off winners were 17-0 down inside the first 10 minutes, but coach Bryan Smallman was pleased with the way they battled and far from disappointed at the outcome.

"I thought it was the perfect fixture for us to start off with," he said. "If we'd been at home to someone not as good and got a win then people might have thought the next level was easier than it is.

"This was a true test and now we can all look at each other and know what we need to do for next week."

The All Blacks started with a succession of missed tackles and offside transgressions but rallied well after their difficult opening 10 minutes.

They got their one try from a good lineout take from Martin Jones, which resulted in a slick move from full-back Gareth Jones, who glided through a gap to put Craig Thomas over.

The conversion was not attempted owing to an error of judgment by young fly-half Charlie Ralph, who omitted to ask the referee if the ball could be replaced.

That left the score at 17-5, though thoughts of a late comeback were ended as Barker Butts added two late tries and two penalties.

By Chris Hudson

Pictured above: How they line up at Forton Road - Newport Rugby Club's first XV (top) and the Seconds

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