Photos courtesy of Deborah Lloyd
It’s a strange sight in this day and age to see a side run on to the field wearing the baggier style of jersey that would have graced rugby pitches 30 or more years ago.
Newport are going for the retro look to mark their 150th anniversary, this match being one of a sequence in honour of this landmark, it being the oldest Anglo-Welsh fixture, first played in 1879.
However, any notion that the Black and Ambers might be seriously weighed down by their heavier, long-sleeved attire on a warm, sunny afternoon in August would be quickly dispelled as they claimed this six tries to four victory.
Blackheath began well enough, Jordan Burns and Jake Lloyd combining down the right flank to send Josh Smart over.
Josh Skinner responded with the first try of a hat-trick for the flanker but, arguably the best try of the afternoon (which met generous applause from the predominantly Welsh crowd) belonged to Burns, the scrum-half producing a wonderful break to the right corner.
Tries for Kyle Taylor and Iwan Prys Jones sandwiched a score for Lloyd, but it was Skinner’s second, the back-row exploiting a gap defence before dummying to the goal-line, that put the Welshmen in control at 26-17 at the interval.
The second period was largely controlled by Newport, the hosts adding two more scores, Chay Foster-Smith cutting a fine angle to cross and Skinner completing his hat-trick, before Blackheath finally got a lineout functioning for Mike Hoyt to claim a consolation.
The meeting between the two clubs was the first since Newport travelled to Rectory Field in 2008 for Blackheath’s sesquicentenary, a match which the Club had won 26-14, this result, therefore, an evening-up of sorts.
Nevertheless, the tally for what had been a regular fixture pre-professional era, now stands at 123 wins for Newport against 22 for Blackheath. If it becomes a permanent pre-season encounter as many are suggesting, it’ll take the Club a long time to redress that balance.
Graham Cox
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