Newport did rearrange three matches during the early B&IC pool games but this backfired when a number of players who would have been available were taken for the Cross Keys XV in the B&IC competition. All matches were lost and it remains to be seen how costly this could prove at the end of the season.
All Premier League matches are proving a challenge these days for the Black & Ambers and Saturday’s match will surely be no different. All too often Newport have got themselves into winning positions only to fall at the last hurdle.
Up until 2006 the teams had met on 10 occasions in cup and league matches and the record was P10 W10 in Newport’s favour but after the 68-15 hammering that Newport handed out at Rodney Parade the playing record is somewhat different. Since then the clubs have met a further 16 times and of those matches Newport have only managed six wins and a draw. They have also conceded the double for the last two seasons but still have the edge in matches with an overall record of P26 W16 D1 L9 and a Premier league record of : P22 W12 D1 L9 : F659 A510.
Newport still have a long injury list but now that the B&IC pool matches are over, captain Ollie Griffiths and other players should hopefully be available.
Newport: G O’Driscoll, O Broad, J Morris, B Nightingale, E Frewen, J Murphy, A Quick, D Pattison, H Gustafson, A Jeffries, Adam Brown, A Frampton, R Jenkins, O Griffiths (capt), S Cross.
Reps : D Rogers, D Young, J Greenfield, D Partridge, S Waldron, O Davies, A Hewitt, J Mogg.
