South snatch victory at the death.

South came out with all guns blazing in this home game against Newport from Shropshire at a more than squally Welford Road. Determined to avenge the away day mauling in September, South took the intensity from the warm up into the game. Wes Cartwright made his first start for the 1st XV, replacing Rob Sands who was injured in the previous weeks County Cup victory over local rivals Syston, with brothers Harris and Rich Bailey featuring on the bench.

Although Mark Lord and Newport counterpart Jamie Simpson both missed early penalties in the blustery conditions South were on fire and reproduced probably their best opening period of the whole season. A Lord penalty and excellently constructed tries for Gaz Nicholson and Keiron Collins both converted by Lord gave South a dominant 17-0 advantage as early as the 21st minute. A shell shocked Newport came more into the game with full back Mann taking advantage of some slack tackling to split the South defence and scored a good individual try under the posts. Simpson converting. The South set scrum was going well giving their opponents a torrid time, nicking one against the head and still being able to rumble around in the loose causing havoc. The lineout that had stuttered against Syston was more than effective and Sam Badham stole a number of the Newport throws. As the half drew to a close, Lord and Simpson again traded missed penalties before Lord landed his second to take the score to 20 points to 7 at half time.

More of the same South pressure in the tight exchanges opened the second half forcing Newport prop Sikanen to be sinbinned. Due to a lack of a front row replacement on the bench Newport forced the game to go to unopposed scrums. A cynical ploy perhaps to negate the power of the South set piece.
Ironically, from that point on Newport put together some fine direct play to eventually take the lead with two breakaway tries from Curvengen both converted by Simpson the latter via the upright. South were guilty on both occasions of entering the contact area with the ball and being turned over by the ever more confident Newport side. Chris Bale was injured and replaced by Steve Harris in order to add fresh legs to the contest in an attempt to redress the balance of the game.

Facing a narrow defeat South had to attack from the kick off. With time running out they patiently advanced into the Newport half with a combination of tight forward play and adventurous running. A Rich Lang probe was carried on by the forwards to camp on the opposition line. Quick ball enabled Mark Lord to "open his legs and show his class" scything through the Newport defence to dive over the line under the posts. His own conversion was a formality and South were home by the skin of their teeth 27-21!

Although Newport contributed to the cliffhanger of a game by coming back so strongly South should have controlled the latter stages without the unforced errors in contact that supported the Newport revival.
Kris McFredries kept the pack going forward with Rich James, Dom Green and Mark Bayley all making the hard yards. Debutant Wes Cartwright was always there and there abouts when the ball went loose and made some crucial tackles.

South now look forward to visiting Kenilworth and entertaining Broad Street continuing to have a say in their promotion battle although having to settle for a mid table finish to the season themselves.

Team: Lang, Thomas, Armstong, Collins, Nicholson, Lord, McFredries, Bale (Harris S)Cartwright, March (c), Matthews, Badham, James, Green, Bayley.

Unused replacements: Harris A (FR), Richard Bailey.

Man of the Match: Wes Cartwright.

Match Report: Phil Lord