Newport in Twickers fever

Buoyant Newport Rugby Club today set their sights on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Twickenham - despite missing out on home advantage in the semi-final of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup.

This lunchtime's draw handed the Forton Road men a trip to Chester on Saturday, March 15, for a game which will decide who heads to the home of English rugby for the final of the national competition.

Newport, who ply their trade in Midlands One, kept their dreams of a final appearance alive with a nerve-jangling 23-21 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday in front of around 400 supporters.

That leaves them just 80 minutes from taking their place in the national final, emulating Cleobury Mortimer who reached Twickenham in the Powergen Junior Vase in 2006.

And, while they have missed out on the home tie they craved, officials are hopeful of overcoming a Chester side who sit at the top of North Two, one level below the standard Newport play.

"It was going to be difficult whoever we got because all the sides left in are jolly good," said Newport's director of rugby Ray Price.

"Chester have played in the National Leagues and they are a big club. We would have loved another home game but it's only 40 miles so it's not a problem.

"We will be going up there and giving it everything we have got. We have won two on the road this year and that's two more than a lot of teams."

Tries from Tomasi Tanumi, Neil Weston and Steffen Brotherton, as well as two penalties and a conversion from Tanumi, had put Newport in the box seat on Saturday as they led 23-11 in the second half.

But the sin-binning of Adam Owen and Phil Kaleta saw Newport reduced to 13 men for 10 desperate second half minutes, and Middlesbrough capitalised with two unconverted ties.

And, as the pressure increased, the visitors spurned a fine opportunity to break Newport's hearts as they missed a decent penalty opportunity to win the game in the final two minutes.

But the hosts survived to spark off a night of memorable celebrations. "The lads deserved it because it was a fantastic win," added Price.