Three and easy as Newport march on

Newbold-on-Avon were the latest side to be swept aside as the Forton Road outfit maintained their stunning start to the Midlands Premier season.

Another scintillating performance resulted in a 10-try rout and a 62-13 victory that keeps Newport top of the table. They have now scored 183 points in their three matches to date while conceding just 37.

Director of rugby Chris Wilde was delighted with the latest showing but is refusing to get carried away at this early stage of the season.

“This was another exceptional performance but we’re not blowing any trumpets just yet,” he said. “We know from previous experience that events beyond our control can often have dire consequences and turn your season around.

“At present there is a really good mix in the squad. Good players being well coached and showing a desire to get better and progress while enjoying playing together in a close knit group”

The game was not quite as straightforward as the scoreline suggests with Newbold only really capitulating in the last quarter when Newport’s superior fitness, athleticism and class eventually told

The home side put out what would probably be the heaviest team in the division with the obvious intent of bullying the league leaders into submission but Newport were able to repel their early efforts.

Despite the size of their opponents it was Newport who had the upper hand at scrum time where Jon Evans and the ever-improving Jordan Grass dominated.

From one such scrum Monty Maule put in a raking kick to the home 22, forcing the defender to take it into touch. Newport won the lineout and the ball was spun left where Jason Francis added to his try count.

Newport struck again when Rhys Morgan turned over ball in his own 22, Chris Perry made good yardage before feeding Liam Holder who just made it to the corner to make it 10-0. Newbold hadn’t really threatened but their first sortie into the Newport red zone resulted in a try.

The next score came from Newport, a neat move from the base of a scrum on half-way sending Henry Vaka off on a mazy run that brought him a try under the posts for Holder to convert.

A beautifully-weighted chip from Maule dropped into the arms of Dave Archer on the right wing and he finished off in style to make it 24-8 after the extras.

Newbold grabbed a second try at the start of the second half to move within two scores at 24-13. But Newport hit back with Archer scoring his second try. Holder then sprinted 60 yards to score and convert from the touchline to make it 36-13.

Newport continued to dominate with Ash Paterson picking his way through the middle of a ruck to scamper in under the posts with Holder converting.

It was now ‘floodgates’ time.with Vaka crossing twice to complete his hat-trick and extend the led to 57-13. A final try for Morgan and a Holder conversion made it 62-13.