Whitchurch 22pts - Newport 21pts

This was a closely fought match that wasn’t really what it appears. The visitors brought a much heavier pack but Whitchurch had all the craft and speed to overcome this. The opening exchanges were fairly even but it took only six minutes for the Reds to power their way forward and score close in through Harvey Leonard. Robbie Leighton converted to lead by seven points to nil. The Edgeley Park men were on the rampage immediately and when a little kick was charged down it was picked up and run back at the opposition and Robbie Leighton finished off the move with a silky try.

There were only ten minutes on the clock with Whitchurch twelve points on the board. There then followed a period of an abnormal number of penalties and infringements given against the home side and it was no surprise when Newport managed a try and conversion of their own. Joe Mullock, on his return after a long lay off, was given some harsh treatment and had to leave the field injured. Undeterred, the reds overwhelmed the Newport defence and the sparkling Nathan Horton tore through to touch down with Leighton converting. Half time saw the score nineteen to seven.

The second half saw the home side continue to dominate but their efforts were being thwarted by the whistle with the crowd getting restless at some of the decisions. Ten minutes into the half, Newport advanced through a series of penalties and were able to score another converted try. Whitchurch tried to impose their superiority again but kept being forced back as infringements and carelessness saw the visitors advance and then score again to take the lead by two points. The North Shropshire side the galvanised themselves and scrapped their way forward to force their visitors to offend about thirty five metres out. James Marvell stepped forward and slotted over the penalty to give Whitchurch the one point lead that they were not going to give up.

This was a fine win, keeping their one hundred per cent record.