Montgomery takes Newport to their final curtain

Bridgend 23 Newport 27

Robert Cole
Sunday 20 April 2003 00:00 BST
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Percy Montgomery went a long way to paying off his first season's wages at Newport as he kicked the Black and Ambers into the Principality Cup final with nine sweet strikes out of nine. The former Springbok's perfect record prevented a potential fourth successive defeat at the hands of Bridgend this season. Indeed, having been caned 56-30 the previous weekend this was quite a turnaround.

It means that Newport's departing heroes – Shane Howarth, Simon Raiwalui and Adrian Garvey – will have one last big match before leaving Wales. Whether or not they deserve that opportunity is debatable. While the lead changed hands six times during the game, the skill level was low and the error count agonisingly high. Bridgend will be kicking themselves for losing after scoring two tries and seemingly having the game in their grasp midway though the second half.

The crowd of nearly 14,000 were kept entertained by the respective full-backs, Montgomery and Gareth Cull, as their boots kept the scoreboard ticking over. By half-time Montgomery led with five penalties to Cull's two penalties and a conversion of Craig Warlow's try.

That gave Newport a slender lead at the break which Montgomery improved with his sixth penalty three minutes into the second half. At that stage the momentum was with Newport, but a shocking kick by Howarth was charged down by Richard Bryan on half-way and all of a sudden Bridgend conjured a try out of nothing to hit the front again through their skipper Gareth Thomas. Cull converted and Bridgend were back in the ascendancy. Now it was a question of which team could keep their nerve as the pressure mounted and, to their credit, Newport's resolve never wavered as they went in search of the points they needed to claw back the deficit.

Montgomery coolly kicked his seventh penalty midway through the second half but three minutes later a swinging arm tackle by Mike Voyle allowed Cull to regain the lead for Bridgend.

It all came down to the wire, but some late forward pressure and two more Montgomery kicks steered Newport into a lead that this time they did not surrender. The result ensures thatone of Welsh rugby's greatest clubs will be able to go out on a high before their amalgamation with Ebbw Vale next season.

Bridgend: G Cull; P Jones, G Thomas (capt), J Taumalolo, R Mustoe; C Warlow, H Harries; C Loader (P Booth, 64), A Joy, C Horsman (J Thiel, 77), D Jones, N Budgett, M Molitika, T Harris, R Bryan (S Van Rensburg, 80).

Newport: P Montgomery; A Cadwallader, J Jones-Hughes, J, Pritchard, L Nabaro; S Howarth, O Tonu'u; R Snow, P Young, C Anthony (A Garvey, 64), S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle, I Gough (M Veater, 64), J Forster, S Ojomoh.

Referee: P Adams (Ebbw Vale).

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