TROWBRIDGE 29 NEWENT 21

The clubs have not met in the South West leagues since the Severn league was introduced in 2022-23. After that season Newent were level transferred into the Midlands Leagues, but they have transferred back to the South West this season in Regional 1 South West. They have lost both their matches this season at Weston super Mare and Exmouth and lie at the bottom of the table at this stage.

Trowbridge were without Kyle Oatley following cuts sustained at Lydney and Alex Christopher withdrew on the eve of the match. Fin Morris replaced him on the wing. Harry Fraser replaced Oakley in the back row to make his first start and Alex Kilbane moved to Full Back to allow Tom Weaver to return to fly half later in this match. Jack Connor, who scored two tries at Lydney was not available for this match.

Both sides made handling errors early on but Newent opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a try from Scrum Half Thomas Cowan converted by Thomas Webb. Then Trowbridge replied with tries from Oakley Milton and Kacey Pike before the break to make the score 12-7 at the interval. Kilbane converted the second try.

The reporters did not have the benefit of a video for the match so the scorers in the second half could not always be identified. Trowbridge gained more possession in the early parts of the second half and Morris scored on the left wing to increase Trowbridge’s lead. Weaver returned to the fray at half time and converted this try. Trowbridge scored two more tries with one credited to replacement debutant Ed Betts at No 8. Newent scored two further tries with one credited to wing Adrian Connolly. Webb converted both tries to narrow the gap to 24-21 but Trowbridge confirmed the visitors went home pointless, maybe undeservedly, with a late try and the final score was 29-21.

Trowbridge’s performance was not as slick as at Lydney the previous week but it was sufficient to take the spoils today. They had two yellow cards to Kilbane in the first half and scrum half Ali Lane later on and suffered an injury to skipper Ethan Hutt late on that may affect his availability in later matches. But the side benefitted from the unlikely return from front row players Jaden Ephgrave and Alex Chalmers who appeared to be out following injuries sustained at Lydney the previous week.

Trowbridge remain top of the league and move on to host Chew Valley next Saturday and Newent’s performance looked as though they will soon pull away from their present bottom position.