Montgomery Launches Newport Career With Defeat

Gavin Henson ruined Percy Montgomery’s Newport debut with an outrageous 50 metre drop goal to give Swansea XV a 14-13 victory over a Newport XV at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night.
The Welsh international outside half gave his side the lead for the first time in the match on the stroke of time to leave the 2,180 strong crown stunned.
The 50-times capped Springbok full-back only played for the first-half and looked rusty in his first competitive outing for more than a month. He always looked to join the back line, but had little opportunity to shine.
Newport took the lead after only seven minutes when Irish wing Matt Mostyn made a try out of nothing. Shane Howarth added a 28th minute penalty to make it 8-0 at the break.
Montgomery left the field at the interval, along with Wales centre Jason Jones-Hughes and Matt Pini resumed at full-back. Two Henson penalties, after 43 and 70 minutes cut the gap to one score before home No 8 Joe Powell was driven over for a try.
That score, a mere five minutes from time, seemed to have settled matters, but Swansea hit back with a close range try from Wales prop Darren Morris and that last gasp drop goal from Henson.
“Nobody likes losing, but it was only a friendly and I didn’t expect too much. It was all about learning the moves and getting to know the players for me,” said Montgomery.
“The co-ordination wasn’t too good, but I was just glad to get onto the pitch. My fitness is still there, but I need to get used to the players around me.
“I can’t play for the first team until 21 December, so I will work as hard as I can between now and then to get properly prepared. This is my pre-season build-up time.”