Another classy performance from Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery rescued Newport from a shaky start at Eugene Cross Park.
The blonde fullback kicked 17 points in last weekend’s Welsh Premiership win over Pontypridd, but bettered that tonight – scoring in every conceivable way to clock up 27 points.
The match was essentially a trial match for the combined Newport-Ebbw Vale team the WRU wants to enter into Europe next season, and many of the Steelmen put their highly-paid neighbours in the shade in the opening spell.
A penalty try and a five-pointer to flanker Tyrone Morris after some clever work from Ebbw Vale scrum-half Bryan Shelbourne rattled the Amber and Blacks, before Montgomery stamped his class on the match with a superb 40-minute display in the second half.
His try sparked Newport’s recovery, and he gradually gobbled up the Steelmen’s lead with his goal-kicking. His huge boot constantly got Newport out of trouble and the former Springbok fullback capped a great night at the office with a brilliant 45m dropped goal in the 65th minute and two further penalty goals in the dying minutes.
