Fishes wriggle free for play-offs

Newport are just 80 minutes from elevation to the top level of Midlands rugby after winning 29-15 at Barkers Butts to cement a promotion play-off place.Saturday’s victory ensured the Fishes a second place finish in Midlands 2 West, and sets up a play-off with eastern division runners-up Matlock.

Newport will have home advantage in that promotion head-to-head, to be played on April 28, due to finishing the season with one more point than their Derbyshire rivals.

But the Shropshire side were made to fight for it by Butts, who played better than their eighth position in the 12-team division would suggest.

“We at times made hard work of things, and for much of the game the scores were very close,” said spokesman Chris Bristow.

“Only two brilliant tries in the last four minutes secured the win, with a score which flattered the visitors.”

It was Barkers Butts who started the more impressively of the two sides, kicking two penalties inside th first seven minutes to open up a 6-0 lead.

Newport responded with a 10th minute try, Simon Bell keeping the ball alive and slipping it to Paul Buttery, who scored right in the corner. Jamie Simpson added the extras with a superb conversion from the touchline to put the visitors ahead.

Spirited Butts replied just five minutes later with their third penalty of the lead to move in front again.

But Newport turned it around on 24 minutes, impressively slicing through the home defence for skipper Steve Dolphin to go over in the corner - Simpson once more converting from the touchline.

The Fishes never relinquished the lead again, and built on it with a Simpson penalty early in the second half.

It seemed then they might start to move clear, but Butts showed plenty of spirit and closed the gap to just two points with 13 minutes remaining after two more successful penalty kicks.

With the game in the balance, Newport made two changes, bringing on Mark Lindsay and Michael Woodhouse - and both made an impact on the game.

It was Fijian Watsioni Leqeti who gave them breathing space though, scoring a superb individual try after the Forton Road men had turned over a Butts scrum.

Straight from the restart, Newport launched another attack, Alex Bristow and Lindsay combining well, with the replacement scoring under the posts. Simpson added the extras to start the celebrations among the numerous travelling supporters.

By Chris Hudson