by Rhys Owain Jones
Newport earned themselves another incredible win in front of their home supporters in the much-anticipated battle of the top two.
The second-placed Black & Ambers beat high-flying Llandovery 24-6 to secure their 12th consecutive win and end the Drovers’ impressive 17-game winning streak in all competitions.
The victory also ensures a home semi-final for the B&As in May’s playoffs having secured a guaranteed top-two finish.
With the S4C cameras in town for his must-see event, it was the visitors who had the first say on the scoreboard. A pair of Jack Maynard penalties gave the visitors an early lead, however that was to be the limit of their tally for the evening.
Che Hope’s quick thinking with a tap penalty saw him race towards goal from just inside the Drovers’ half before finding Matt O’Brien who finished the phase to cross over for Newport’s opening try after twenty minutes.
Then in the second half, the B&As quickly turned over the ball and Iwan Pyrs Jones’ cheeky boot up field gave Hope the opportunity to sprint forward on the left wing and beat the helplessly trailing defender to slide over for his side’s second.
Newport’s victory was sealed five minutes before the end when a clinical catch-and-drive move from a lineout deep in Llandovery’s twenty-two led to Henry Palmer catapulting over for his tenth try of the season and the B&As’ third of the evening.
It was another impressive victory for the Black & Ambers who have not lost since the reverse fixture at Church Bank in November last year.
The match was marred though by a nasty injury to Drovers’ full-back, Jac Davies, in the final ten minutes, with reports that the youngster had suffered a suspected broken leg. Everyone at Newport RFC sends their best wishes to Jac for a full and speedy recovery.
With two regular season games remaining (away at Neath and at home to Bridgend), Newport would love to continue their magnificent 12-game-winning run and keep up that momentum with the play-offs on the horizon.
SGÔR TERFYNOL: B&As 24-6 Llandovery
Seren y Gêm: Ben Roach
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