LLANDOVERY 26-46 NEWPORT
Magnificent Newport produced a statement performance and win at Church Bank with seven tries to bag all six points and send reigning Super Rygbi Cymru champions Llandovery spinning to a second straight defeat.
The Drovers hit the front early in this encounter but were left shell-shocked as the Black & Ambers then responded with four tries to lead 26-5 at the midway point in the first half.
It set Ty Morris’ men on their way to a second win from two to start the new season, having opened with a bonus-point win at home over RGC last weekend.
“Obviously we’re really pleased with the result, particularly going to Llandovery, where they are so tough to beat,”said Morris.
“What pleased me most, though, was the way we went about our business in both attack and defence. We brought real tempo, urgency and physicality to everything we did, and I felt that set the tone for the game.
“We need to make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves, though. You don’t win anything in September, and we’re very aware that, in the SRC, any team can beat anyone on their day.
“For us, it’s about staying grounded, continuing to improve and making sure we maintain those standards week after week.”
Scrum half Dafydd Buckland was at the double for the visitors, with wing Oli Andrew, lock Ethan Phillips – on his 26th birthday – flanker Hunter Ward, centre Brogan Leary and replacement Tiehi Chatham also scoring tries for Newport. Full back Carwyn Penny added four conversions, while outside half Will Ford sent over a penalty.
Llandovery did respond to going behind by scoring three further tries to at least secure a bonus point, but they had given themselves too big a mountain to climb in the first half, and trailed 33-12 at half time.
No 8 Dan Gemine, full back Jac Davies, wing Aaron Warren and replacement Josh Thomas were the Drovers’ try scorers.
In what was a clash of the SRC champions of the past two seasons, hosts Llandovery were bidding to bounce back from their dramatic 43-41 reverse at Pontypool in last weekend’s opening round.
And it was Euros Evans’ side who drew first blood with a try scored by Gemine with only two minutes on the clock, although the conversion was missed by Ioan Hughes. That lead didn’t last long, though.
Three minutes later, Newport went ahead through a try scored by Andrew, converted by Penny, and it was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Birthday boy Phillips powered over moments later and the game was only 12 minutes old when Buckland touched down for the first of his brace, with Penny adding the extras to both.
The first bonus point was in the bag eight minutes later when Ward crossed for try number four for Newport, although this time the conversion was missed.
Llandovery hit back through a try from Davies, which was converted by Sam Potter – on as a first half replacement – but the final act of the half belonged to the visitors, who capped a five-star first 40 minutes when Buckland scored his second try, converted by Penny.
A yellow card for Ward after the re-start and a third Llandovery try scored by Warren, converted by Potter, raised the prospect of a Drovers fightback in the second half – but it never materialised.
Ford kicked a penalty before Ward returned to the field and then Chatham went in for a sixth Newport try, this time unconverted. Having taken two bonus points in defeat at Pontypool Park last weekend, Llandovery added another point to their tally when Thomas scored their fourth try, with Jack Maynard converting.
But it was ultimately scant consolation for the champions, with Leary wrapping up a comprehensive win on the road for the Black & Ambers in added time.
Scorers: Llandovery: Tries: D Gemine, J Davies, A Warren, J Thomas; Cons: S Potter 2, J Maynard. Newport: Tries: D Buckland 2, O Andrew, E Phillips, H Ward, T Chatham, B Leary; Cons: C Penny 4; Pen: W Ford