Rising Welsh talent makes triumphant return to site of his worst moment and looks like 'man against boys'
Rising Welsh talent Harri Ackerman showed exactly why he has been tipped as a future Test star after he played a key role in Newport's win over Cardiff RFC.
The Black & Ambers claimed the first bragging rights over their rivals in their first Super Rygbi Cymru meeting of the season, as they came from behind in the second half to seal a 27-20 win at Cardiff Arms Park. Tries from captain Ben Roach and Oli Andrew had put them ahead before the break, but Cardiff's Joe Goodchild and Joe Thomas added to Marc Thomas' earlier score to move ahead shortly after the break.
With his side trailing moments into the second half, however, powerhouse Dragons centre Ackerman put them back in front as he bulldozed his way through four tackles to cross under the posts. The 6ft 1in 20-year-old looked unstoppable as he powered through the defence, with one fan remarking on social media after the match that he looked "like a man against boys".
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After that try put his side back in front, Jac Lloyd's penalty moved them seven points clear of Cardiff, with the win leaving them fourth in the table and just five points adrift of league leaders Ebbw Vale. To make the victory even sweeter for Ackerman, it came on the same field that he was stretchered off of nine months ago, when he suffered a double leg fracture against France in the U20s Six Nations.
That injury required him to undergo surgery and after a long recovery period, the youngster made his return to playing with Newport earlier this month. Widely regarded as a future star of Wales' midfield on the international stage, he will now be looking to get his match fitness up and break into the senior Dragons side in 2025, something which seems to be only a matter of time.
After he suffered the leg break, Newport head coach Tyron Morris vowed that Ackerman would "emerge stronger" from the setback as he hailed him as a "rising superstar".
"My heart goes out to Harri Ackerman," said Morris at the time. "A rising superstar. He’s destined for Wales’ senior international team. Despite the setback, he’ll emerge stronger with his superb professional mindset. Your Newport rugby family stand by you, Harri."
