Newport 15 pts Bishop's Castle 16

SHROPSHIRE Cup holders Castle will not give up their trophy easily and surprised higher-graded Newport with a superb team display to dispatch the much-fancied hosts in an enthralling cup-tie in which the lead changed hands five times.

The loss of player/coach Gavin Randell did not stop Castle from taking the game to their bigger opponents, but in spite of consistent pressure they could not breach the home defence.

Newport came back and opened the scoring with a powerful drive after claiming a line-out in the Castle 22-metre area.

Castle did not lie down and came back strongly, but again, they could not turn the pressure into points.

Andy Wilcock reduced arrears soon after the restart, and Newport were made to pay for missing two kickable penalties when Darren Price crossed near the posts after strong Castle pressure, Wilcock adding the extra points.

Newport regained the lead with a converted try, but it was short-lived as Wilcock landed a dropped goal, which only crept over after bouncing on the bar.

The hosts applied strong pressure on the Castle line and appeared to have the tie won when they converted a penalty after the visitors killed the ball.

Castle refused to give up and Wilcock landed what turned out to be the decisive penalty for a one point lead and victory.