The Greens at last overcame their 2012 hoodoo and managed the first victory of the New Year. Changes from last week’s squad saw the return to 1st XV action of Luke Scargall and also Adam Middleton back from his college studies.

The contest lived up to it’s billing with resurgent Newport as visitors and Scunthorpe desperate to do themselves justice. The visitors initially used the forwards as ball carriers to gain ground before releasing the ball to their wide runners. The home defence stood firm and it was The Greens that took an early lead when Tom Foster sent the ball wide to the left and with the defenders fixing their attention on Woody Viamoso, he release the ball to the supporting Chris Neal who beat the remaining cover for the try. With the failure of the conversion the score stood at 5 points to nil. The pattern of play was end to end as both teams attacked and counter attacked often from deep positions. Scunthorpe were getting the better of the tight play whilst the Shropshire boys were always dangerous on the counter.

Newport missed a penalty after 22 minutes and both sides went close with break- a-ways. Chris Neal made some good attacking runs from deep only to be stopped short without being able to get a pass away. Just after the visitors had, had a man yellow carded for his sides repeated infringements at the breakdown, Tom Foster popped a kick behind the Newport defence into their ‘22’ and watched as Woody Viamoso plucked the ball out of the air, away from the scrambling cover defence and run in for the try. This time Karl Clayton managed to convert and the Greens were 12 points to nil in the lead. The visitors failed with another penalty opportunity just on half-time.

After only 3 minutes into the second period, Newport got their first points of the day with a well struck penalty from half-way by full back Liam Holder. He then repeated the exercise after 8 minutes and the game suddenly had a different dynamic. Scunthorpe however, brought this resurgence to an end when the ball was worked to Viamoso for another home try. Clayton added the conversion and Scunthorpe were now 19 points to 6 in front.

Newport came back 20 minutes into the second period Sam Foskett went clear down the right for a try converted by Holder, bringing the score-line to 19 points to 13. Play once more swung from one end to the other and for the home boys Oli Wood was brought down just short from where Newport countered and came up just short themselves. It was from one such counter attack that Newport came within sight of victory with another try by Foskett making the score board read 19 points to 18 with the kick to follow. Holder missed the all important conversion. After 40 minutes Clayton struck a penalty for the home boys who held on to record a win by 22 points to 18, much to the delight and relief of their support.