Aberavon RFC v Newport RFC – 20 th September 2025 by John Evans
Just as Steve Bennett waxed lyrical in the program against Llandovery about Ben
Roach’s sequence of consecutive games played than our captain injures his hamstring
and is forced to sit this game out! Not a major issue, really. Ioan Rhys Davies looks
the real deal at 8.
At about 2.15pm, the heavens absolutely opened, whiting out the nearby M4 ensuring
that the weather would have a big say in the afternoon’s proceedings. The journey
down had been tricky, visibility being minimal and an aquaplaned car at right angles
to the motorway causing an obstruction.
Newport chose to give a debut to their new change strip today, a black shirt with a
slim amber band around the middle, with an amber collar. Very handsome it is, too.
It’s on sale at the club shop already and seemed quite popular amongst the visiting
supporters. Might it be an idea to ask Father Christmas for one?
Aberavon RFC held a minutes silence for several people connected with their club,
which was impeccably observed, as one might expect, former Internationals Paul
Wheeler and Ian Hall amongst them, as well as dual-code Wales player Mark Jones
who all passed away during the summer.
The weather relented a little for kick-off time, Jac Lloyd getting the game underway
as Newport attacked the motorway end of the Talbot Athletic Ground. A strong
charge by Ioan Rhys Davies had Newport going forward, but the slippery ball was
going to be a factor to overcome. Aberavon’s outside-half, Kelen Cullen, kicked long, the ball skating across the try-line. Carwyn Penny was safely onto it, but Newport had to restart via a goal line drop-
out. Aberavon mounted an attack, but wing Finn Baker snuffed it out hauling his
opposite number into touch. Wizards prop Jordan Walters threatened to punch a hole in the Newport back-line.The Black & Amber defence were across the threat but conceded a penalty. Kelen
Cullen stepped forward and opened the scoring with a penalty, making it Aberavon 3
Newport 0 with 6 minutes played.
Neither team were able to assert themselves, the conditions allowing little to be
constructed, but the Newport defence were working hard. Newport were pinged
offside, The Wizards went to the corner, won the lineout as the rolling maul stuttered.
Hooker Saul Hurley broke away, but the subsequent knock on gave Newport a
defensive scrum, which Jac Lloyd then improved by kicking Newport clear.
An outstanding kick by Aberavon wing Felix Gilbert had Newport on the ropes again,
the ball rolling and sliding into the Newport 22, and into touch for a 50:22. The
Wizards lineout worked well, the maul set, and Saul Hurley burrowed across the line
for the game’s first try. Kelen Cullen kicked the conversion to make it Aberavon 10
Newport 0 on 19 minutes.
Finn Baker made inroads into the Wizards half but was high tackled. Unfortunately,
the resulting penalty failed to find touch and Aberavon were able to clear.
It was evident that Aberavon were playing simple, smart wet-weather rugby. Nursing
the lines, kicking intelligently and keeping their forwards moving. They had the nous
to overload sides so that home pursuers instantly outnumbered visiting defenders.
Carwyn Penny did well to secure the ball for Newport in one such situation, but the
ensuing kick was charged down by flanker Rhys Thomas, maintaining the pressure on
the Black & Ambers. The referee, Mr Adam Jones, then penalised Newport for some
unnecessary ‘afters’. Kelen Cullen kicked to the corner and the rolling maul produced
another try for hooker Saul Hurley. The conversion drifted left of the posts making
the score Aberavon 15 Newport 0 with 26 minutes played.
Frustratingly, Newport were dominating the scrums but were able to do little to
capitalise on that. A penalty resulting from one such scrum went to touch, but then the
line out was stolen. Just about everything that could go wrong was going wrong.
Eventually, Newport did find a gap, wide on the right, but rather than move the ball
simply, the ball went into contact and by the time it emerged, the Wizards had cover
enough to stifle the Newport attack, and the opportunity was lost.
The Black & Ambers were starting to look like the Newport of old, but naivety in a
ruck cost a penalty. Kelen Cullen took a swing at it from 38 metres, the ball sailing
over the crossbar as the rain lashed down once more and the two teams jogged back to
the changing rooms for half time.
Half Time: Aberavon RFC RFC 18 Newport RFC 0
The sun was shining as Kelen Cullen restarted the game, Ioan Rhys Davies working
well to establish a platform for Newport. A long kick by Jac Lloyd resulted in a
terrific chase which, eventually, won Newport possession. Prop Jordan Morris had a
little rumble with the ball, but a neat pop pass by Matt O’Brien found a chink of light
in the Aberavon defence for Finn Baker to skate through, angle his run, and cross near
the posts. Jac Lloyd kicked the conversion to make it Aberavon 18 Newport 7 with 46
minutes played.
A speculative kick by Kelen Cullen deflected off a Newport player, the bounce of the
oval ball playing havoc with Finn Baker. Aberavon scrum half Scott Whitlock and
Kelen Cullen inter-passed finding room for Cullen to waltz across the line for a try
that he fully deserved. He also nailed the conversion from the tramlines to make it
Aberavon 25 Newport 7 with 50 minutes played. Mount Talbot suddenly looked as
steep as ever.
Newport replaced their entire front row, Messrs Morris, Langley, and Harris making
way for Tom Devine, Henry Palmer, and Ollie Drake. A challenge on Matt O’Brien by Saul Hurley was very late, but he probably got there as soon as he could, bless him. Mr Jones had no hesitation in offering Mr Hurley a seat on the naughty step and a short course in timekeeping, no doubt.
Jac Lloyd kicked the penalty to the corner, but the lineout went astray and Wizards
number 8, Ashton Evans, could carry the ball away before Kelen Cullen cleared.
Newport ran back at the Wizards, a pass going to ground was an opportunity for Jac
Lloyd. He hacked through, and hacked again, but the defence was back to cover.
Morgan Burgess and Josh Reid took the place of Cerrig Smith and Kobi Rees
respectively.
A 56th minute steamhammer of a scrum earned a penalty; Callum Bradbury took the
lineout well, but Ashton Evans did exceptionally well to hold Josh Skinner up and
earn the turnover for his side.
Harrison James relieved Jac Lloyd of duty on 58 minutes, just as Finn Baker struck
again for the Black & Ambers. Morgan Burgess took a lineout catch at the front
before Henry Palmer had a dart forward with ball in hand. He managed to find a pass
to Finn Baker who tormented the defence before darting over in the corner. The
conversion was missed, so the score was Aberavon 25 Newport 12 on the hour.
Aberavon were creeping upfield, slowly but surely, before Newport were caught
offside, although they were probably as blinded by the constant crossing in attack as
the referee was. Kelen Cullen slotted the penalty to make it Aberavon 28 Newport 12
on 66 minutes.
Lucas Welch and Chay Foster-Smith replaced Dafydd Buckland and Finn Baker
around the 69-minute mark. A catalogue of errors by Newport wasn’t going to gain
anything as Aberavon continued to play competent, efficient rugby.
Then it started raining again. Newport broke from deep, Matt O’Brien putting Jonny Morris and Morgan Williams into space. Morgan Williams had few options other than take contact, but the ball
away to Josh Reid was scruffy, and Aberavon had the ball back. However, things
were about to change. Ashton Evans carried from the base of the scrum, but Scott
Whitlock fumbled. Matt O’Brien kicked the loose ball ahead, Chay Foster-Smith
chasing for all he was worth. The ball crossed the line and Chay Foster-Smith was
down on it like a tramp on a fresh bag of chips. Matt O’Brien added the conversion to
make it Aberavon 28 Newport 19 on 76 minutes. Could they?
There was a moment of danger as a pass was picked off by Scott Whitlock in the
Newport 22, but it fell loose, Josh Skinner first on the deck to secure it. Ioan Rhys
Davies was composure itself as he calmly trapped the ball with his foot, picking it up
and passing away as two Aberavon loose forwards were about to snag him. Newport
kicked long, won the line out, and launched again, going wide quickly, trusting their
instincts as wing Morgan Williams strode in for a late try that silenced the main stand
and had the nerves of Wizards supporters jangling. That made the score Aberavon 28
Newport 24 on 79 minutes. COULD THEY?!
Newport fought their way forward, looking for that last heartbreaker of a score. The
Aberavon defensive effort was immense but still the Black & Ambers edged forward,
until a ball bounced off Josh Skinner’s chest onto Lucas Welch, making him offside.
That was enough for Mr Jones, as he blew for full time to release the pressure for the
Aberavon supporters.
Being truthful, from the position that Newport were in at half time, coming away with
two points wasn’t a disaster. Let’s hope that was their poor performance of the season
over and done with early on.
Full Time: Aberavon RFC 28 Newport RFC 24
The Black & Ambers are in action next Saturday, 27th September, at Newport
Stadium, when we host the Whites of Swansea RFC. This is a Super Rygbi Cymru
game and is not being shown on TV anywhere. You must be there to see the action!
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Final Score – Aberavon RFC 28 Newport RFC 24
Seren y Gem – Finn Baker