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South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport County can profit from League Two big spenders
The Exiles have had an encouraging start to the transfer window by signing three seasoned EFL campaigners and another player of potential from the Cymru Premier to go along with loanee Michael Reindorf. County have pulled off something of a coup by signing Wales midfielder Matt Smith, who at 25 will still have ambitions of representing his country. They have also brought in goalkeeper Nik Tzanev and striker Ged Garner, two players who are well versed in the third and fourth tiers. There has been a slight shift in the recruitment policy that is driven by owner Huw Jenkins, who last year brought in a raft of novices, the majority of them in their early 20s. So far, 23-year-old defender Lee Jenkins is the only player in that bracket after signing from Haverfordwest, while Cardiff forward Reindorf has arrived on loan for the season. Perhaps that is an acknowledgement that County got away with it last season with an inexperienced group. Maybe it's recognition that if they are to develop players to sell on then they need them to grow alongside some seasoned campaigners. BUILDING: County owner Huw Jenkins (Image: Huw Evans Agency) Trading remains a vital part of the Jenkins plan given that Newport are a club whose only assets are their staff. They don't own a training ground - pre-season is taking place at USW Sports Park in Treforest - and they are tenants at the Dragons' Rodney Parade. Those issues are not going to be solved any time soon and that means that new boss David Hughes arrives with three big tasks. The first is obvious – get County winning again so that they can look up the table rather than down as they were at the end of last season (albeit from a position of relative comfort). The second is to produce the goods in cup competitions to boost the coffers. The Carabao Cup doesn't actually bring in much cash so there won't be too many tiers if County lose at Barnet in the preliminary round and miss out on a round one tie against Millwall. The prize money is pretty good in the EFL Trophy and excellent in the FA Cup, which provided much-needed boosts under Michael Flynn and Graham Coughlan. That's partly down to luck of the draw – James Rowberry landed then League One Morecambe away, Nelson Jardim faced League One Peterborough in Newport – and the 2023/24 run showed that it's not just about the plum tie. Coughlan's squad had already brought in plenty of cash before the Manchester United tie thanks to three wins over National League opponents in Oldham, Barnet and Eastleigh (with a TV pick of the Bees replay earning £30,000). Last season the first round winners got £45,000 (losers £15,000), second round winners £75,000 (£20,000), third round winners £115,000 (£25,000). County might not have used cup money particularly wisely in the past but another reasonable run – it doesn't even have to feature a Premier League fixture – would ease some of the financial pressure as the club works towards some sales. The Exiles need to sell players to invest and not many clubs actually make a success out of such a policy. However, the willingness of League Two clubs and National League clubs to start spending money - Milton Keynes and Gillingham being the most eye-catching so far - presents more opportunities if County get it right. On that front, new boss Hughes and Jenkins need to make some pretty swift decisions to stop players of potential leaving on frees next summer. TALENTED: Cameron Antwi has shown glimpses of his ability for County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) Sell now or get a new (and improved) contract sorted. Winger Bobby Kamwa and centre-back Matt Baker were the relative stars of last season, rangy right-back Joe Thomas has shown promise and midfielder Cameron Antwi, who clearly has the ability but needs consistency and focus, seem to be the main assets. Centre-back Ciaran Brennan could push on, perhaps energetic but slightly wild midfielder Kai Whitmore will come back with more on-field discipline. Defenders Jaden Warner and Tom Davies were brought in from clubs higher up the pyramid for a reason in January but fitness/injury means we've not seen much of them. County need to start making decisions if they are to avoid a repeat of recent Dom Telford, Priestley Farquharson, Cameron Norman situations. There is money in the National League and League Two, which makes County's on-field task tougher but also presents more summer and January opportunities if they get their talent ID and development spot-on. SWITCH: Nick Townsend has signed for Eastleigh after leaving County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) 2025 LEAVERS WITH NEW CLUBS NICK TOWNSEND: Eastleigh. The goalkeeper was in contract talks with County but opted for a fresh challenge with the Spitfires, who look to be having a real crack at promotion. AARON WILDIG: Gloucester City. The midfielder, who is on the comeback trail from ruptured knee ligaments, opted to quit full-time football to drop down the levels as a player-coach as he starts to look to the future. KIBAN RAI: Aldershot. The forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Merthyr only to suffer injury misfortune. Will play in the National League with the Shots, aiming to finally rack up games to fulfil his potential. NATHAN WOOD: Penybont. The attacking midfielder/forward returned to Cymru Premier contenders Penybont last season on loan so it was no surprise that he made the move permanent. KIERON EVANS: Eastleigh. The midfielder spent the season on loan from Cardiff but was released by the League One Bluebirds. Followed Townsend to Eastleigh, with the Spitfires claiming they had beaten EFL competition for the signing. DAVID AJIBOYE: Carlisle. The winger spend the second half of last season on loan from Peterborough and was, as expected, released by the Posh. Will hunt National League promotion with Mark Hughes' Carlisle. DESTINATION UNKNOWN Lewis Webb, Josh Seberry, Kyle Jameson, Josh Seberry, Josh Martin, Geoffroy Bony, Luke Jephcott, Hamzad Kargbo, Kyle Hudlin (has left Huddersfield after returning from loan). (Shane McLoughlin a likely leaver despite being offered a new deal but yet to be confirmed)
The Mainichi
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani homers in 2nd straight game as Dodgers down Royals
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Kyodo) -- Shohei Ohtani hit a home run for the second straight game and also had an RBI triple as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Friday for their fifth consecutive win. The two-way star slugged a leadoff homer to right off a 1-2 changeup from Noah Cameron (2-4) at Kauffman Stadium, going deep for the National League lead-extending 29th time this year. Trailing 4-3 with a runner on and no out in the fifth, Ohtani then tied the game by lining a drive to right-center for a triple off the left-hander's 1-1 four-seamer, and scored the decisive run on a Mookie Betts single. Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk on the eve of his next pitching start against the Royals on Saturday, his first away game on the mound this season. Tomoyuki Sugano had a wild start and surrendered seven runs over five innings on nine hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk, but picked up the unlikely win as the Baltimore Orioles roared back to batter the Tampa Bay Rays 22-8. Jonathan Aranda and Josh Lowe hit a solo shot each before Brandon Lowe cranked a three-run shot to right off Sugano (6-4) in a six-run second at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles scored four runs in the home half and added another in the third to cut the arrears before Sugano allowed his last run in the fourth on three straight singles. However, a Colton Cowser RBI double and Gary Sanchez's two-run shot in the fifth gave the Orioles a lead they would not surrender. "In my long baseball career, it's probably the first time I earned the win giving up this many runs," said Sugano after his team amassed 14 runs over three innings after he got the hook. "I was tense and couldn't get the subtleties of my control right. I know the reason why."
Kyodo News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Baseball: Ohtani homers in 2nd straight game as Dodgers down Royals
KYODO NEWS - 30 minutes ago - 14:43 | Sports, All Shohei Ohtani hit a home run for the second straight game and also had an RBI triple as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Friday for their fifth consecutive win. The two-way star slugged a leadoff homer to right off a 1-2 changeup from Noah Cameron (2-4) at Kauffman Stadium, going deep for the National League lead-extending 29th time this year. Trailing 4-3 with a runner on and no out in the fifth, Ohtani then tied the game by lining a drive to right-center for a triple off the left-hander's 1-1 four-seamer, and scored the decisive run on a Mookie Betts single. Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk on the eve of his next pitching start against the Royals on Saturday, his first away game on the mound this season. Tomoyuki Sugano had a wild start and surrendered seven runs over five innings on nine hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk, but picked up the unlikely win as the Baltimore Orioles roared back to batter the Tampa Bay Rays 22-8. Jonathan Aranda and Josh Lowe hit a solo shot each before Brandon Lowe cranked a three-run shot to right off Sugano (6-4) in a six-run second at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles scored four runs in the home half and added another in the third to cut the arrears before Sugano allowed his last run in the fourth on three straight singles. However, a Colton Cowser RBI double and Gary Sanchez's two-run shot in the fifth gave the Orioles a lead they would not surrender. "In my long baseball career, it's probably the first time I earned the win giving up this many runs," said Sugano after his team amassed 14 runs over three innings after he got the hook. "I was tense and couldn't get the subtleties of my control right. I know the reason why." Related coverage: Baseball: Imanaga gets win in return from injury, Ohtani hits 28th HR Baseball: Dodgers' Yamamoto, Angels' Kikuchi pitch teams to victories Baseball: Shohei Ohtani hits 300th homer of combined Japan-U.S. career
7 hours ago
- Sport
Orioles make history by turning a 6-0 deficit into a 14-run win against Tampa Bay
BALTIMORE -- No lead is safe this year when the Baltimore Orioles face the Tampa Bay Rays. Certainly not with seven innings still to play. On June 18, Tampa Bay beat Baltimore 12-8 after the Orioles had taken an 8-0 lead in the top of the second. Then on Friday night — nine days later — it was the Rays who opened the scoring with six runs in the second. Only for Baltimore to storm back and rout Tampa Bay 22-8. 'I'm proud of our hitters,' Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said. 'We were on the other side of this not too long ago.' According to information released by the team from the Elias Sports Bureau, Baltimore became the first team in either the American or National League to win by at least 14 runs after trailing by six. On a drizzly night at Camden Yards, the Orioles produced an offensive deluge, falling one run shy of the team record since moving to Baltimore. Gunnar Henderson and Gary Sanchez each had four hits and a homer. Colton Cowser doubled three times. He and Ramón Laureano each scored four runs. With the Orioles down 6-0 in the second, Coby Mayo delivered a two-run double to start the comeback. When he came to the plate in the eighth, Baltimore led 20-8 and the Rays had infielder José Caballero pitching. Mayo took him deep for his first career homer to complete the scoring. 'An awesome moment obviously, no matter who it's off of,' Mayo said. 'Really cool thing.' The last time two teams overcame deficits of at least six runs against each other was in 2023, according to Sportradar. Those two games also involved the Rays and happened in even closer proximity. On May 7 of that year, Tampa Bay trailed 6-0 before beating the New York Yankees 8-7 in 10 innings. On May 13, the Yankees fell behind 6-0 but came back to beat the Rays 9-8. Baltimore's 14 extra-base hits (nine doubles, a triple and four homers) set a team record since 1954, when the Orioles began playing in Baltimore. This game came after Tampa Bay allowed one run total in a three-game sweep of Kansas City. And after the Orioles had been no-hit at least into the seventh inning in three of their previous five games. They had 21 hits in this one. 'It was a lot of fun,' Cowser said. 'That's what this team's capable of, and being able to go out there and have a game like that hopefully continues that motivation and confidence.' ___
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Phillies blast 5 homers in rout of Braves
June 28 - Philadelphia hit a season-high five home runs, including three-run shots by Nick Castellanos and Otto Kemp, to awaken their dormant bats and send the visiting Phillies to a 13-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night in the opener of their three-game series. The victory ended the Phillies' three-game losing streak. The Phillies had scored only one run while suffering a three-game sweep at the hands of Houston over the weekend. They erupted to set their season high for runs. Philadelphia scored 11 runs in the first three innings. Philadelphia holds a 4-3 season series lead over Atlanta, which suffered its second straight shutout. Castellanos hit his ninth homer in the second inning, his 10th career homer against the Braves. Omar went deep in the third inning for his first major league homer. The Phillies also got a pair of solo homers from Trea Turner, the second coming in the ninth inning against position player Luke Williams. Kyle Schwarber added a two-run homer, his 25th, tied for second-most in the National League. The game was delayed by two hours and 19 minutes because of rain. Both starting pitchers had warmed up when the tarp was placed on the field. The Braves still used Bryce Elder, while the Phillies changed from Mick Abel to Tanner Banks when the game began. Banks pitched two scoreless innings and allowed two hits with two strikeouts. Taijuan Walker (3-5) followed with two scoreless innings on one hit, two walks and one strikeout to earn the win. Alan Rangel, recalled on Sunday from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, finished the final five innings and allowed six hits, one walk and four strikeouts for his first save. Elder (2-5) was hammered for 10 runs, nine earned, in two-plus innings. He allowed eight hits and four walks with two strikeouts and saw his ERA soar from 4.77 to 5.82. --Field Level Media
