The Cranes ( as S & P are known ), were torn asunder by the intensity, purpose and and range of skill sets of their hosts who showed no mercy as they went about their work with precision and relish.

The home team were on the scoreboard after just 1 minute when the visitors strayed offside, allowing Ross Webb to slot a straightforward penalty from 30 metres. Little did anyone know at this stage, that the 3 points were the beginning of a remarkable personal tally of 30 points that the Newent captain would accumulate in the game.

Playing with the wind, it was all Newent in the opening encounters as they went through the phases with regimental accuracy but a brave and resolute defence, coupled with ill discipline at key moments denied them the try that they eagerly sought.

Eventually the pressure told and the breakthrough came when second row Dan Fletcher, who carried well all afternoon, punched a huge hole in the Crane’s defence and set up a ruck from which scrum half James Dean beat several defenders with a mixture of pace and physicality to score the opening try.

The Cranes hit back from the restart, forcing a penalty on the 22 to give them an easy 3 points.

Although the home team were enjoying the majority of territory and possession and indeed displayed plenty of continuity, when it really mattered, they lacked that cutting edge required to break down a dogged defence. Mobile tight head Chris Steward showed how it should be done when he crashed through the defensive line before offloading to Brett Gardner out wide. The energetic speedster had it all to do but managed to scamper over for the first of his four tries. Webb kicked a difficult conversion from the touchline.

Ten minutes later, Dean made an electrifying break that scattered the defence before offloading to marauding hooker Lee Warren who side stepped and barged his way through heavy traffic to score under the posts. Webb added the deserts and at 22-3, Newent were at last looking value for money.

It was evident that the plucky Cranes were suffering from the effects of the heavy bombardment they had to endure and from the restart Dan Bubb-Sacklyn made a scintillating break down the touchline. From the ensuing scrum the hosts won a penalty and the alert Charlie Gellert took a quick tap and released Dominic Matthews whose silky running saw him score near the posts for the bonus point try. Webb converted.

It was one way traffic by now and a minute before half time quick ruck ball gave the home three quarters enough time and space to use quick hands and create an overlap on the right for Gardner. The strong and elusive winger, in spite of close attention, raced over for his second try. Webb, who was on fire from the tee, kicked a difficult conversion from the touchline.

HT: Newent 36 Stothert & Pitt 3.

It was more of the same as the second period got underway as the superior fitness levels of the hosts took a heavy toll on their visitors. A dominant forward drive took the hosts deep into enemy territory before quick ruck ball and a perfectly timed inside pass from Dean to Steward allowed the rampaging prop to scythe open the defence and gallop 30 meters before being felled inches short of the line. However, arch predator Gardner was on the ball like a flash to go over for his hat trick.

One sensed that the flood gates had well and truly opened by this stage and two minutes later, Charlie Gellert, who was having an influential game in the outside centre berth, made an incisive break from inside his own half before passing inside to Webb who outpaced the cover defence to score the seventh try, which he duly converted.

Ten minutes later, Gellert again scythed through the defence and created enough space for wing Reuben Goatley to dive over in the corner. Just to show he is indeed human, Webb missed the conversion, all but narrowly.

On the hour, Bubb-Sacklyn demonstrated his strength and determination when he received the ball on the touchline 30 meters out but still managed to outstrip his pursuers to score a brilliant individual try.

The try fest was now in full swing and two minutes later Ozzie Garlic produced a piece of magic when he dummied his way through a wall of defenders before passing to Gardner who put the accelerator to the floor to score his fourth try in the corner. Webb added the difficult conversion and Newent had moved past the 70 points mark.

The rampant Newent outfit were dominating all aspects of play as forwards and backs combined in wave after wave of free flowing attacking rugby. The Cranes had not given up and put in the tackles when they could but the work rate of their opponents was incredible as they mounted an avalanche of damaging attacks. Further scores were inevitable and it was Bubb-Sacklyn who made the decisive break before the ball was recycled and moved swiftly across the line for Goatley to score his second try out wide.

Five minutes later, the classy Garlic, who was varying his play intelligently in the fly half berth, weaved his way through a ragged defence before applying the afterburners and run in for a fine try.

Just before the final whistle, flanker George Phelps took a pass from a quick tap penalty and smashed his way through several attempted tackles to score out wide.

It was fitting that skipper Webb had the final say when he kicked the conversion from near the touchline to put the gloss on a prestigious performance with the boot.

FT: Newent 90 Stothert & Pitt 3.

Newent : Dominic Matthews, Dan Bubb-Sacklyn, Charlie Gellert, Ross Webb (capt), Brett Gardner, Ozzie Garlic, James Dean, Morgan Morris, Lee Warren, Chris Steward, Dan Fletcher, Stuart Gayther, Ryan Malone, James Parker, Fred Nottingham. Subs: Dave Boon, Reuben Goatley, George Phelps.

Newent scorers.
Tries- Gardner 4, Goatley 2, Dean, Warren, Matthews, Webb, Bubb-Sacklyn, Garlic, Phelps.
Conv- Webb 11
Pen- Webb 1.