Overview
- Bristol Rovers beat Newport 5-3 at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in an eight-goal Severnside derby that saw goals from Ben Purrington, Bobby Kamwa, two from Fabrizio Cavegn and an own goal by Lee Jenkins.
- Bobby Kamwa scored a curled strike to put Rovers in control, then ran to celebrate in front of travelling Newport supporters, who booed him and threw plastic bottles at him.
- Kamwa was shown a yellow card for his celebration and was substituted late in the game after the display left him exhausted, while a minor on-field melee led to Ciaran Brennan also receiving a booking.
- Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans defended Kamwa and criticised some fan comments, and Newport manager Hayden Mullins said he had not seen the celebration because he was organising the bench.
- Kamwa’s summer move from Newport sharpened feelings around the fixture, the match highlighted tensions that can follow player transfers, and no formal disciplinary sanctions have been reported so far.