LICHFIELD just failed to claw back a 15-point deficit as they were beaten at Newport.
Early season rustiness was not really on show and there were some well-worked tries – four for the hosts and three from the Myrtle Greens.
Jack Ingram added three conversions and a penalty for Newport, while Charlie Milner posted two penalties and two conversions on an afternoon when they both struck good kicking form.
The away side started with purpose and they were soon able to open the scoring as George Butler floated out a lovely pass to Paul Maxwell-Keys to round the cover with ease.
Despite looking comfortable in all areas, the visitors were rather too easily found wanting on the left flank and Charlie Gamble scored the first of his opening-half brace.
Matt Key, prominent throughout with his carrying, benefited from a skew defensive lineout from Newport to wriggle over, before Gamble streaked over from a planned blindside move from a lineout and crash-ball down the centre.
With the scores level at 14–14, Lichfield looked comfortable enough, but they then lost their shape and found possession drying up – and then wrong options crept into their play.
Newport’s third try was a solo effort from Ingram who escaped round the back of a short lineout and only had one man to beat. He then kicked a penalty on half-time to stretch the lead to 22–14.
The second half did not start any better for Lichfield and after ten minutes of home pressure, they conceded another poor try from a visitors' lineout on halfway with the defence seemingly concentrating on an injured player in back play. Full-back Billy Dinning went over under the posts.
Slowly but surely, the Myrtle Greens picked themselves up, their fitness helping them gain the upper hand. They opted to kick a simple penalty to get the scoreboard moving again and this was complemented by a try from Sam Benson from a five-metre penalty. Milner kicked a long-range penalty to effectively make it a one-score game.
However, despite increasing pressure, the city side could not find that elusive decisive try.
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