Newport swoop for Kiwi ace

The Forton Road outfit went down 19-14 at Kenilworth on Saturday to leave them pointless after three games of the National Division Three Midlands campaign.

But director of rugby Ray Price today revealed that Suleiman had now been registered with the club and could arrive in the country in time to make his debut at home to Kettering next weekend.

"He's signed the registration papers and we're just keeping our fingers crossed he will be available," said Price.

"He looks a promising player."

Suleiman's arrival could prove timely, with Newport having suffered more disappointment at Kenilworth, despite having been in a winning position.

Tries from John Stiles and Matt Curgenven and two penalties from Tomasi Tanumi had put them in the ascendancy.

But, despite leading 14-12 for a long period, they conceded a late try to fall to their third defeat.

Luctonians, too, are still looking for their first points of the season after going down 18-3 at Longton.

The north Herefordshire club could only muster three points from the boot of Jamie Simpson in a game when the Luctonians failed to take their chances.

"It was the same old story - we dominated the set pieces but when the ball got into open play our handling and distribution was lacking," said spokesman Robin East.

"Territorially we had as much of the game as Longton did but we didn't take the opportunities when they came along. This is our worst start to the season for four years."

There were no such troubles for Hereford, who knocked Luton off the top of the table with a battling 24-22 victory at Wyeside.

The Wyesiders have now won two of their three opening games and are five points adrift of the division's new leaders Hinckley, who are the only side in the division with a 100 per-cent record.

Alistair McCall and Sean Day both scored tries for Hereford before fly-half Dean Powell converted a penalty try to clinch victory for the Wyesiders.

By CHRIS HUDSON