Rugby Union: Williams' kick-start

Newport . . . .35

Barbarians. . .19

THERE MAY have been more spectacular scorelines between these two sides, but surely there can never have been as unlikely a result. Newport scored more tries, tackled with greater conviction and had, in their outside-half Jason Williams, the outstanding individual, writes Duncan Gardiner.

These are generally unhappy days at Rodney Parade. Newport suffer in the Heineken League and were without several of their more influential players against a side containing 12 internationals. The win should encourage them. When the Barbarians scored two tries through Adrian Davies and Philip de Glanville in the first 12 minutes, however, there was more than the suspicion of a cricket score in view, even though Williams had already kicked two penalties between times.

Williams struck another huge penalty after 20 minutes and generally kept Newport in touch. David Waters, typically, dominated the line-out and two interceptions changed the complexion of the contest, Williams giving Ben Atkins a simple score in the corner and then running through unopposed himself as the error-prone Barbarians tried to attack from under their own posts. Atkins touched down again before Mike Hall finally crossed for the visitors.

Newport were still not finished and hooker Ian Jones took advantage of a quick drop-out by Marcus Dods. Williams, inevitably and fittingly, converted.

Newport: Tries Atkins 2, Williams, Jones; Conversions Williams 3; Penalties Williams 3. Barbarians: Tries Davies, Wainwright, Hall; Conversions Davies 2.

Newport: S McCracken; I Jeffreys, M Yendoe, G Evans (D Llewellyn, 14), M Jeffreys; J Williams, K Lee (capt); M Davis, I Jones, C Morris, N Jones, D Waters (C Wyatt, 77), B Watkins, B Atkins, D Gray.

BARBARIANS: M Dods (Gala); H Thorneycroft (Northampton), P de Glanville (Bath), M Hall (Cardiff), D Stark (Buroughmuir); A Davies (Cardiff), R Moon (Llanelli); G Rowntree (Leicester), J Murphy (Greystones), N Edwards (Northampton), N Hadley (Wasps), K Leahy (Wanderers), R Wainwright (Edinburgh Academicals), I Smith (capt, Gloucester). Replacement: E Peters (Bath) for Wainwright, 63.

Referee: G Simmonds (Cardiff).