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07 January 2018 / Team News

King Kody earns the kudos!

King Kody Earns The Kudos!

Newbridge 10-29 Cae

Happy New Year from all of us here at NHQ Match reporting towers!

To start 2018 we faced one of our oldest rivals in Newbridge, who doesn’t still recall fondly that game in 2014 when the pipes burst at the welfare ground and we all had to row the last 100 yards to the pitch in a makeshift canoe.

After such a long period off, all in the crowd wondered what sort of performance we’d see today, would we be reinvigorated by the break and ready to say “C’mon 2018, lets be having you! or would the ring rust leave us floundering like Jordan Pickford facing a last minute corner?

As it turns out it was a case of New year, New style, New result and that was bad news for New Bridge....

First half: Newbridge 0-17 Cae

Cae were at it from the start today and produced their best performance of the season, the team were completely refreshed by the festive break and played with enthusiasm and energy. The forwards and backs worked in tandem to positive effect and a valiant Newbridge side couldn’t cope with the dynamism of our play.

The honour of scoring our first try of 2018 went to Liam, who shimmied, glided, sidestepped and hotfooted his way to his try, I’m not sure all that was necessary though as he picked the ball up only a yard from the line but it looked good.

Jayden was the pick of the forwards with a string of strong carries and Kody was brilliant in the centre, setting both wings on their way with well timed passes on many occasions and tackling like a fired up Ray Gravell whenever the opposition attempted an attack.

Tom L made a tackle in midfield, got to his feet to turn the ball over and then ran away to score, absolutely brilliant of course, but entirely normal for him.

Little Ry rounded off the scoring in the half, disappointingly only beating 14 of the beleaguered opposition rather than the whole 15 due to one of their players being unable to get close enough to attempt a tackle.

Second Half: Newbridge 10-29 Cae

This half was a half of two halves...Cae were imperious early on, playing the best rugby they’ve ever played, forwards dominant and the backs dancing like the sharks and jets in west side story...

Charlie was marauding like a Viking berserker warrior and tore through the opposition to get the next try and Tom ran through the remnants of a beaten side to make it 29-0, converting his own try.

However, whether it was first match tiredness or a touch of complacency, or maybe just a damn good comeback from a newbridge team full of character, things changed for the last ten minutes.

Actually I know what it was, I jinxed things...no sooner had I turned to blimey O’Riley to suggest we might keep a clean sheet that Newbridge scored after a fine attack and then quickly scored another to end proceedings.

A fantastic start to the year from the team and that comeback won’t hurt, it should keep their feet nicely on the ground.

Man of the Match

Was Kody, for a masterclass in backs play. He knew exactly when to pass or run, judging it perfectly every time and combined this with crunching tackles and turnovers whenever required.

When asked what he put his scintillating performance down to, he replied “I know it’s unlikely, but I just thought if I played brilliantly then I might just inspire little Newport County to beat the mighty Leeds in the cup later!” Ah, bless him, the lad can dream but things like that never happen.....

Onwards and Upwards in 2018

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