Llandovery staged a dominant second half comeback to defeat defending Super Rygbi Cymru champions Newport 20-27 at a rain soaked Newport Stadium in the opening game of the new season.
The Black & Ambers will rue a dominant first half where they weren’t able to convert pressure into points.
Winger Fin Baker gave the home side a perfect start on his league debut when he dived over in the fourth minute but Newport were unable to stamp their authority on proceeddings and the Drovers made them pay when the ball was hacked downfield and a mix-up in defence near the Newport try-line saw Stuart Worrall pounce to score.
Newport tried to play an attacking game on the slippery surface with full back Morgan Wiliams in particular looking threatening with ball in hand. Eventually Newport were able to retain possession long enough for Josh Skinner to score. Carwyn Penny added the conversion to put his side 12-5 in front.
He edged Newport further in front five minutes from the break with a penalty to give his side a handy lead but the Drovers refused to throw in the towel and scored in the final minute of the first half to go down the tunnel with a fresh spring in their step.
Llandovery patiently hammered away at the Newport try-line and went through the phases for Ioan Hughes to score out wide to reduce the arrears to just five points at the break.
Llandovery proved a different proposition in the second half. They hit the lead for the first time in the 45th minute when powerful prop Josh Morse barged over to give Hughes the easiest of conversions. To rub salt into their wounds, Newport saw Josh Skinner yellow carded by referee Adam Jones.
Newport struggled to get their hands on the ball as the Drovers pegged the home side back with astute kicking and a vice-like grip on possession. Cameron Lewis burrowed over in the 54th minute to give Hughes the easiest of tasks to add to his tally.
The Llandovery fly half then hammered another nail into Newport’s coffin with a penalty to put his side out of sight at 27-15.
Desperate to get something out of the game, Newport piled into the Drovers in the final minute and with Llandovery losing two players to the sin bin, space eventually opened up for Barney Nightingale to work his way over for the home side to claim a losing bonus point.
It may only be a point, but how crucial could it prove to be with another long season ahead where every point will be vital to make the play-offs? We’ll have to wait and see.