'PORT PUSH NEWCASTLE - WalesOnline

A SPIRITED performance by Newport wasn't enough to contain the big-money professional Newcastle side, but the margin was less than some had anticipated.

Indeed, the hosts kept their visitors pointless in the second half, while scoring a try themselves.

The Falcons showed their confidence in the first minute of the game when they declined the opportunity to kick a penalty from in front of the posts, opting instead for the scrum.

The move backfired, however, when they conceded a free kick.

Much of the first quarter of an hour was then played in the Falcons' half, Newport taking the game to their rivals as coach Sven Cronk had said they would.

The Falcons always looked threatening on the counter-attack, however, and they got onto the scoreboard in the 15th minute.

Gathering a high ball close to their own 22, the Newcastle backs moved it into the Newport 22 where, from a ruck, they set up flanker Richard Mayhew to run in for a try.

Despite that setback, Newport persevered with their attacking approach and their efforts were rewarded with a penalty for a high tackle on Scott Sneddon that the fly-half converted himself.

Thereafter, the Falcons gradually began to impose themselves on the game and the pressure paid off when wing Andrew Higgins was deemed to be the victim of a high tackle on the Newport line and Newcastle were awarded a penalty try.

Try number three came in the 34th minute when, from a scrum 12 metres out, the Falcons quickly moved the ball wide to set up an overlap and allow full back Jimmy Gopperth to run in uncontested.

On the stroke of half-time, the same player claimed the visitors' fourth try, once again from a scrum a few metres out from the Newport line to give his side a 26-3 half-time lead.

It would have been easy for the Newport players to allow their heads to drop in the second half, but they narrowed the gap just three minutes after the restart with a try from No 8 Craig Everett. And they continued to look for scoring opportunities whilst also defending strongly despite having two players yellow carded during the course of the half.

Indeed, Newcastle were unable to add to their tally, and it was the first half of rugby this season in which they have been outscored by their opponents. Next weekend, however sees Newport faced with the even tougher task of taking on the Falcons on their own turf.

Newport: Try: Craig Everett. Con: Scott Sneddon. Pen: Scott Sneddon.

Newcastle Falcons: Tries: Richard Mayhew, Penalty Try, Jimmy Gopperth (2). Cons: Joel Hodgson (3).

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