Newport edge Bridgnorth on derby day

But it was visiting Newport who prevailed at the Edgar Davies Ground, greater physicality and better skill under pressure taking them to a 14-8 win in the North Midlands Cup semi-final.

However, in increasingly difficult weather conditions it might well have been a different story had Bridgnorth been able to convert some early penalty opportunities.

It was always going to be a tight affair and defences were generally on top throughout.

However, in increasingly difficult weather conditions it might well have been a different story had Bridgnorth been able to convert some early penalty opportunities.

It was always going to be a tight affair and defences were generally on top throughout.

Newport gave their hosts the advantage of the wind in the first period and as expected the hosts came out firing at full throttle.

Newport did not help themselves by knocking-on the kick-off and Bridgnorth pounded away at the visitors' line before pushing a penalty wide.

Newport's Ash Paterson, freed to play after last week's sending-off was overturned by the disciplinary panel, was a constant thorn in Bridgnorth's side with quickly-taken taps and darting runs.

Evergreen centre Neil Weston marshalled the defence superbly and put in a number of big hits. Bridgnorth missed another penalty, but were successful on 19 minutes to lead 3-0.

Newport then enjoyed their best period of the half, Henry Vaka and Guy Kirkby almost breaking through the defensive line, as the hard running of Kirk Robinson and Nathan Parker had an effect.

Newport, if anything, were guilty of trying to force the play with unnecessary off-loads going astray, but they levelled with a Liam Holder penalty before half-time.

In the second period, the light rain became a full-blown downpour with the odd burst of hail thrown in for good measure.

Bridgnorth were penalised early on and Holder put Newport 6-3 ahead. Newport were beginning to gain the upper hand and claimed the crucial try after forcing a scrum in the home 22.

The pack got a shove on and Steve Byrne picked up and drew a defender before feeding Paterson, who scampered over in the corner.

Holder could not convert, but at 11-3 up Newport were in charge and forcing the home side to play, by and large, on the counter attack.

Newport's defence, with Jake Goulson, Jack Wells and Luke Kendall prominent, remained resolute although they were grateful to Chris Perry for a last-gasp tackle to snuff out a threat from the home side.

The visitors worked their way back into home territory and another Holder penalty stretched the lead to 14-3, with eight minutes remaining.

But there was one last twist as a clever cross-kick set up a Bridgnorth try wide on the left, the conversion unsuccessful.

Newport move on to the final which will be played on Sunday May 8 against the winners of Birmingham & Solihull against Old Halesonians.

For Bridgnorth there is the huge compensation of looming promotion from Midlands One West – they top the table by nine points.

They could see them up to National League Three Midlands, while Newport make the journey in the other direction.

Meanwhile, Church Stretton endured a tough game in horrendous conditions, falling to a 34-14 home defeat against a powerful Rugeley side.

The game was played in galeforce winds and torrential rain at times and the conditions seemed to suit Rugeley, who outscored the Samurai by five tries to two.

Rugeley won the toss and opted to play with the strong wind at their backs, which paid dividends as the wind died down in the second period.

Rugeley opened with some strong carries, which were met by big tackles from the home side.

However, some Stretton indiscipline gifted the visitors three penalties which enabled them to establish themselves in the home 22.

Stretton threw back waves of attacks, but eventually Rugeley drove over from a scrum for the opening score.

With the wind unrelenting, Stretton were struggling to get out of their own half and Rugeley added a second try when they drove over from a line-out.

Stretton responded, keeping ball in hand and running it hard. A

After strong carries by back row pair Joe Charles and Regan Jordan, the ball was worked to centre Will Davies, who burst through several tackles to dive over under the posts.

Roan Kirkby added the conversion to pull the score back to 12-7. Stretton went close to a second score when runs by Davies and winger Sam Hill established them in visiting territory.

Centre Will Forbes-Lee was stopped just short on the right and then hauled into touch on the left shortly afterwards. The Samurai pummelled the line, Rugeley held out.

Some big kicks put the visitors in good position and their big pack forced its way over for a third try and a 17-7 lead at the break.

The rain came down even more heavily after the interval, as the pitch started to turn into a mud-bath. That suited Rugeley's forward-based play and they drove over again for the bonus point try.

Stretton, despite losing five players to injury, came back again with young centre Davies carving his way through for his second try of the game. Kirkby added the extras to close the gap to 10 points.

But another try from a scrum, plus a penalty, gave Rugeley their breathing space as they closed out the win.

In the same division, Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley battled valiantly at home to leaders Uttoxeter but were eventually beaten 21-7, their third successive defeat.