Gittus puts Newport under starter’s orders

Forton Road is the venue for a a first-ever meeting with Sheffield and first-team boss Phil Gittus is hoping his side won’t have to play catch up again.

Last week’s 25-19 defeat at leaders Scunthorpe saw Newport slip below rivals Bridgnorth into third place in what is shaping up to be an intriguing title battle.

“A 25-19 loss to a well-drilled, solid team, on their own turf, is no disaster, as long as lessons are learnt,” said Gittus.

“There will be no runaway winners of this division and there are many teams capable of upsetting the ‘big guns’ on any given day. The team that triumphs in April, will the one that sticks together through all the ups and downs.

“We can certainly do that, but we need to stop starting games so slowly; 19 and 12-point starts, in the last two games, are unacceptable.”

Bridgnorth head to Lichfield chasing a seventh straight league success.

Having lost their opening game of the season at Sheffield, the All Blacks have hit an impressive fun of form that saw them move into second place on the back of last week’s 43-5 win over Doncaster.

But despite their surge up the table, head coach Brian Smallman is refusing to get carried away and will re-evaluate their progress at Christmas.

“It’s great to be up there,” he said. “We’d rather be second-top than second-bottom.

“Confidence is high but Lichfield is not an easy game and we’re not expecting to just go their and win. We’ve got to stay grounded and remain hard-working and focus on details.

“We’ve then got Luctonians and go to Newport and play Scunthorpe before Christmas. We’ll look at it at Christmas and evaluate where we are.”

In Midlands West 3 (North), Shrewsbury will be looking to make it six of the best at home to Wednesbury.

The Sundorne Castle men are joint top of the table with Burntwood following five straight league wins and coach Simon Evitts believes they are their to be shot at.

“We have won five from five and a lot of sides will see us as a scalp now and we have to be ready for that,” said Evitts.

“But despite winning five games we are still not top of the table so there is still plenty of work to be done and we won’t take anything for granted.”

Also in the division, Cleobury Mortimer head to Eccleshall.

Whitchurch travel to Old Hales in Midlands 1 West. In Midlands 2 West (North), second-placed Ludlow host Leek and Telford Hornets welcome Wolverhampton.

The Midlands 4 West (North) actions sees Clee Hill and Market Drayton at home to Aston Old Eds and Rugeley respectively.

Bishops Castle are at Dixonians in Midlands 5 West (North).