Reivers routed on return to valleys

Rodney Parade

NEWPORT tries: Jones-Hughes, Garvey, pen, Breeze Teichmann, Mostyn, Marinos, Gough pens: Howarth cons: Howarth 6 55-15

EDINBURGH REIVERS tries: Officer, Joiner pens: Hodge cons: Hodge

ANOTHER away-day, another trouncing. The degree of home dominance in this season's Welsh/Scottish League campaign is in danger of becoming tedious.

Those with the financial well-being of the SRU at heart might even go as far as to suggest that the Reivers and Glasgow Caley should have a collection of cardboard cut-out figures stationed in the principality to be deployed against the leading sides down there.

After all, think of the savings in coach hire and hotel bills - not to mention the avoidance of injuries.

On the other hand, the more optimistic observers reckon that just one win against a leading light on Welsh soil could open the floodgates. Chance would be a fine thing.

Reivers' hopes of bucking the trend had been higher than ever after their brilliant victory over champions Cardiff six days earlier but, apart from the first few minutes and a spell after the interval, they were never really in the hunt.

Although the morning rain had dampened the surface, Reivers kept the ball alive in the early exchanges with Duncan Hodge eventually turning Newport on their heels with a booming touch-finder.

The quick pressure was rewarded when Hodge stroked over a penalty but there was little else for them to celebrate.

Newport should have redressed the balance straight from the restart. With a four-man overlap just two metres out, scrum half Dale Burn somehow knocked on at the base of the ruck and the chance went begging.

When the Black and Ambers then turned down an opportunity to kick a simple chance, they wasted another opportunity by losing possession close to the line.

But on 13 minutes, the Reivers defence was breached. In the wake of a line-out the ball was shipped infield and when lock Ian Gough got his hands on it, he sent Jason Jones-Hughes over for Shane Howarth to convert.

That score signalled a Newport onslaught. After a series of five drives and a great break from the Irish wing Matt Mostyn, the ball was whisked along the line where prop Adrian Garvey was lurking to score a try that Howarth again goaled.

What had been a promising start soon paled for the Reivers, and when flanker Matt Taylor was taken off injured, the writing was on the wall.

Centre Marcus di Rollo was the player showing most promise for Edinburgh but when he raced clear of Jones-Hughes two minutes later he took the wrong option by deciding to kick instead of trying to cut back inside. The ball sailed straight into touch, albeit off a Newport hand.

Worse was to befall Reivers almost immediately. Newport had battered at the defence for fully 90 seconds before Howarth hoofed across the field. As Emyr Lewis hurtled in for the touchdown he was unfairly impeded and referee Nigel Owens awarded a penalty try that Howarth converted with ease.

It was fast turning into another dreadful away-day for the Scots. And the contest was effectively over when Ben Breeze claimed a try after a fumble by full-back Stuart Lang.

The second half started as the first had finished with Newport in control and on the front foot.

Jones-Hughes and Lewis were causing the biggest headache but the driving force of Ian Gough and Gary Teichmann meant it was a joint effort from backs and forwards.

When Howarth opted to kick for the corner from a penalty in the Reivers 22, Don Mackinnnon's side were once more pegged back under heavy pressure.

The line-out was won by Gough, who was driven towards the line and, although stopped a metre short, the ensuing scrum almost saw Mostyn in at the corner.

It was as much as the Reivers could do to stem the tide and another landslide defeat always looked on the cards. It was also certainly a far cry from the humbling of Cardiff six days earlier.

In contrast, Newport were looking as though they could score at will. On 51 minutes, captain Teichmann snapped up a loose ball in the 22-zone and strolled over unopposed for Howarth to convert.

It was all so pedestrian from the Reivers. They enjoyed phase after phase but could not make any headway unless Hodge put his boot on the ball. But even then, Newport would win the line-out and plough down field.

At last, after an hour, the Reivers finally battled their way into Newport territory and when Iain Fullarton won a clean line-out, the ball was transferred into midfield where David Officer barged over.

It was simple and effective, and to be honest the Reivers must have wondered what they could have done with a bit more possession. To their credit, the Scots never allowed their heads to drop and they tackled all afternoon.

They earned a second consolation reward 14 minutes from time when a break up field, led by the inspirational Mackinnon, resulted in Newport being outnumbered.

When the ball came free to Test wing Craig Joiner, he was able to muscle his way to the target. Newport steadied with a long-range penalty by Howarth before they finished with a flurry and a spate of further touchdowns.

Mostyn dashed through after good work by Howarth and Andy Marinos, who then turned from provider to scorer as he fed off Jones-Hughes straight from the restart. It was left to Gough to round off his outstanding display with the final effort in injury time.

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