Following being on their travels for their previous three matches, Cardiff RFC returned to the Cardiff Arms Park, where they secured a hard-fought triumph against Newport RFC.
Dewi Cross scored on his 80th appearance, as Ben Fry claimed a brace, with the pair also being joined by crosses by Tom Bowen, Steffan Emanuel, and Matty Young, which saw the Blue and Blacks claim another bonus-point victory.
Outside-half Harri Wilde slotted 10 points from the tee as Cardiff secured a pulsating 40-27 victory in front of a healthy crowd at the Arms Park.
Speaking following the contest, Craig Everett said: “Thrilled to bits for the boys.
“First-half we were a bit ropey, a couple of soft penalties given away, which allowed Newport to build into the game, as a good team they did.
“Clear messages at half-time, come out and in fairness to the boys they delivered.”
Story of the Game
The contest between the two old rivals was billed as a must-watch, and it largely lived up to the hype despite both sides arriving at the Arms Park after a quick five-day turnaround following both recording six-point bonus-point wins.
Also for the Blue and Blacks, blind-side Sonny McCabe and replacement Lloyd Lucas recorded an even quicker turnaround, returning just four days after Wales U19s’ 24–20 victory over Ireland.
With that said, it only took a matter of minutes for the deadlock to be broken in a clash that had been so eagerly anticipated. The Blue and Blacks were penalised around the breakdown area, and Carwyn Penny kicked into the hosts’ 22.
Following the resulting catch and drive, and after pressuring Cardiff’s line, Hunter Ward powered over from close range to score the opening try of the contest as Penny added the extras.
Almost immediately, the hosts responded through a score of their own.
Following some great handling, open-side Ben Fry crossed over for his seventh try of the season, with Wilde adding the extras to make it level after a thrilling opening period.
With momentum being back in the Black and Ambers’ favour following the hosts levelling, late replacement Oli Woodman broke up the touchline but was eventually brought down.
Then, blind-side Ward claimed his second of the evening after breaking through the hosts’ defence. Penny continued his 100% strike rate from the tee by adding the extras.
However, soon, ill-discipline proved to be costly for the visitors. Josh Skinner was penalised after a kick in behind from winger Cross. Frustratingly for the hosts, this time around, they were unable to capitalise as an end-to-end opening quarter came to an end.
Cardiff quickly began to build back momentum in the fixture, and this came from several penalties inside the Black and Ambers’ half. Wilde kicked to the corner, and Fry from the driving maul broke away to score his second.
Prior to Wilde’s shot going wide, try-scorer Ward was sent off for ten minutes. Then, following a penalty from the restart for the visitors, the Blue and Blacks showed great strength to disallow Newport from claiming their third of the evening.
Penny kicked three points from the tee shortly after this, as the hosts were penalised at the breakdown. But, prior to the 30-minute mark so the contest was level.
After some particular fast handling from the hosts’ backline, Bowen received possession in the wide channel and raced over for his second of the season, which made the encounter 17-17.
Matty Young then showed some brilliant pace to expertly chase down his opposite number, Morgan Williams, after expertly crafting a try-saving tackle to force a knock-on on the Blue and Blacks’ whitewash minutes from the end of the first-half.
Despite that, the Black and Ambers went in at the interval three points ahead after Penny converted a penalty kick as Cardiff were penalised following a scrum.
HT: Cardiff RFC 17-20 Newport RFC
On an evening where the scrum wasn’t a strength for the hosts, it proved to be the catalyst for Cardiff’s bonus-point score.
With Wilde kicking in behind, and Young pressuring, the Blue and Blacks earned themselves a five-metre scrum. From an offload by Ethan Lloyd, Steffan Emanuel easily broke through the visitors’ defence to score his third try of the season.
As expected at this point in the contest, Newport regained the lead by following the theme of responding quickly. Chay Foster-Smith scored after a delayed pass from Penny, who also added the extras.
Wilde then kicked a penalty from distance to once again make the contest even heading into the latter stages of the third quarter. Inside-centre Emanuel impressively kicked a 50/22, which put the Blue and Blacks on the front-foot.
Following a pass outside from scrum-half Lloyd, Cross gathered to score his thirteenth of the season on his 80th appearance for the club. Wilde was unable to add the extras, which made the final quarter all the more intriguing.
Once again, the hosts’ defence was on point as, under continuous pressure on their line, they turned the ball over and kicked to relieve the pressure, which was later followed by a 50/22 from Wilde.
After the line-out, Newport’s captain Ben Roach was sent off for ten minutes after an infringement, but the next resulting set piece went astray as Cardiff could not capitalise.
Then, replacement Rhys Cummings made a great impact when he came off the bench, with standout moments coming with kicks in behind the visitors’ defence.
Following a chip over the top, where he regathered, but replacement, Lucas was unable to gather the quick offload metres from the Black and Ambers whitewash.
Next, Newport were penalised when in attack for crossing as Wilde kicked the three points to extend Cardiff’s lead by eight heading into the closing exchanges.
But following a moment of madness, but at the same time brilliance, the Blue and Blacks scored their sixth try of the contest.
After a high, pressuring kick into the visitors’ 22, somehow second row Skinner gathered but misplaced his pass into the hands of Young, who showed his strength to score his fourth try of the season.
That score impressively secured the Blue and Blacks their first home win over Newport since September 2023, as Cardiff, in their last home game of the regular season, ran out 40-27 winners.
They now face a trip to Broadacre, Dunvant next Saturday (KO: 14:30) following guaranteeing themselves a top two finish in the Super Rygbi Cymru table.
FT: Cardiff RFC 40-27 Newport RFC