Newport aim to rebuild Forton fort
Newport are out to make their Forton Road base the fortress it once was as they prepare to welcome South Leicester tomorrow. Newport are out to make their Forton Road base the fortress it once was as they prepare to welcome South Leicester tomorrow. Director of rugby Ray Price has been especially disappointed with their home record this season, which has seen them lose six of the nine games they have played on their own ground. That has been a big factor in why they find themselves on the fringes of the National League 3 Midlands relegation tussle, and Price is eager to see it change. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Director of rugby Ray Price has been especially disappointed with their home record this season, which has seen them lose six of the nine games they have played on their own ground.
That has been a big factor in why they find themselves on the fringes of the National League 3 Midlands relegation tussle, and Price is eager to see it change.
"We made amends a little bit last week by beating Kenilworth, but we've lost too many and Forton Road has not been the fortress it has been in previous years," he said.
"We'll be looking to put that right on Saturday. We'll have a good strength team out, and there will be no excuses."
It is a big game for both teams, with South Leicester just two places and three points better off than Newport in the league standings.
The Shropshire side is boosted by the return to the squad of the experienced Toby Mann, who has been away for most of this year on a training course in Spain.
But there is no danger of Price, or anyone else in the Newport camp, taking their opposition for granted.
"South Leicester have got a big pack, they're very well organised and they gave us a hard time at their place," he said.
"They're not a terribly exciting side to watch, but they're very tough forward-wise."
Luctonians will be going for a double over Luton when they clash at Mortimer Park.
"Luton were a lively side when we played them earlier in the season and have a good back line but we beat them up front and ran out 13-12 winners," spokesman Robin East recalled.
"It was a very close game but if we can beat them again at Mortimer Park we will leap frog above them into fourth place." Fly half Alex James, who played his first game since returning from France, will be hoping to keep his place in the starting line-up.
Hereford face a difficult game when they travel to third-placed Hinckley.
The visitors will be without their leading try scorer Sean Day, who limped off with a hamstring problem against the Luctonians last Saturday.
"We have to put the defeat against the Luctonians behind us and move on to the next game," said director of rugby John Watkins.
By CHRIS HUDSON
