A tight tussle went down to the wire with the match officials dissecting the matchwinning try from centre Jordan Howells, who found himself at the back of a driving maul in the 77th minute. He picked up and managed to squeeze over and that proved to be decisive after the Quins had led 15-14.
“We went through every emotion in that game before we got the winning try. We’d been sticking in games for 50-60 minutes, but to come down to Carmarthen and dig out a win at the end is really good,” said Dale Stuckey.
“It was tit for tat through much of the game, but we dug in, stayed patient and took our chance at the end when it came.”
Penalties from Jac Wilson and Joe Scrivens kicked off the scoring before both teams found themselves playing a player short for 10 minutes in the first-half. Ponty lost No 8 Joe Miles to the first yellow card for a high tackle before home tight head prop Alex Jefferies saw yellow for killing the ball.
Ponty hit the front in added time at the end of the first half when arch poacher Dale Stuckey raced onto a Scrivens kick through to score in the left corner to make it 8-3 to the visitors at the break.
Quins started the second half strongly and took the lead after a break from full back Dale Ford set up flanker Lawrence Reynolds to score at the posts. Wilson added the extras.
Scrivens responded with a penalty for Ponty In the 49th minute to edge them back in front., but just after the hour mark the home side made the most of an error in defence by Fijian international Nico Matawalu.
He threw the ball in field to stop it going dead and only managed to gift it to Jefferies. The ball was recycled and eventually worked wide to the right for Dylan Richards to cross.
Scrivens made it a one point game moving into the final 10 minutes with a third penalty before Howells ended up the hero at the death.
Newport’s Kyle Tayler searches for a gap against Swansea
(Pic: Simon Latham?
SWANSEA 24-20 NEWPORT
Last season Newport were pipped at the post in the race for the Indigo Premiership title, but this term they find themselves at the other end of the table after Swansea inflicted a fourth successive defeat on the Black & Ambers.
Many people’s hot tip for the title this time round, Matt O’Brien’s men have yet to taste victory and surrendered a 17 point lead as the Whites mounted a magnificent second half fightback. The two teams will have to do it all over again next weekend in the Cup.
It was a last gasp Matthew Jenkins try that capped an incredible home comeback to steal victory from the jaws of defeat and add to Newport’s agonies.
“I thought it was a very poor first half from our perspective and we didn’t play as a collective unit, more like a team of individuals. It was very frustrating as we had a strong wind behind us in the first half and, one Dan Edwards kick aside, we just didn’t make the most of it,” said Swansea head coach, Hugh Gustafson.
“We were lacking that composure in the first hour of the match. In the final 20 minutes we played really well and seemed to gel. “That’s not easy when we make quite a number of changes to the side. To score 21 points at the end like that was really positive and it showed what we are capable of.
“I didn’t see it coming and to be honest I turned the radio off going into the last 10 minutes as I thought it would be the end of the game. We play Newport again next week in the cup, and they’ll be a wounded animal and very frustrated about today.”
In a dull first half Swansea took the lead through an Edwards penalty. The Black & Ambers had a couple of chances to tie the scores, but Will Reed’s goal kicking let his side down.
Home centre Tom Florence tried to squeeze over at the corner, but Josh Skinner ripped the ball out of the tackle as the half time whistle sounded. After the break Newport went on the offensive and a Matt O’Brien chip enabled Chay Foster-Smith to pounce for an opportunist try.
Reed then kicked two penalties, before a superb 50/22 kick by O’Brien gave Newport an attacking lineout. An unstoppable drive from the lineout resulted in a try for prop Luke Yendle.
With five minutes remaining the All Whites finally hit back with what appeared to be a late Harvey Nash consolation try. Then Wales U20 full back Iestyn Hopkins handed a short pass to Luke Scully to allow the outside half to score a second try to set up a grandstand finish.
In the last play of the game Newport gave away a penalty and 25 phases later the ball was spread out wide to Jenkins, who squeezed over at the corner to secure a sensational victory.
Scorers: Swansea: Tries: H Nash, L Scully, M Jenkins; Cons: D Edwards 3; Pens: D Edwards. Newport: Tries: C Foster-Smith, L Yendle; Cons: W Reed 2; Pens: W Reed 2
BRIDGEND 29 – 27 EBBW VALE
This was an enthralling encounter with the lead changing hands throughout the course of the 80 minutes, but the contest was decided when Gatt sliced through the Steelmen’s defence to run in from 35 metres out with three minutes remaining.
Ebbw Vale struck first with Matthew Flanagan touching down at the corner with Evan Lloyd converting before Iwan Griffith claimed Bridgend’s opening try. Tyler Williams was next to get on the scoreboard for the Ravens as he powered his way over from short-range.
Hemi Barnes put Bridgend ahead with their third try as former Ospreys No 10 Luke Price added the extras to give the Ravens a 17-10 lead at the interval. The Steelmen hit back early in the second-half as Joe Franchi stepped past three defenders for their second try.
Lloyd levelled the scores at 17-17 with the conversion but Ebbw Vale were soon ahead when Ethan Phillips scored from long-range. Caine Woolerton dragged Bridgend back into it with their bonus point try with the conversation from Price tying the scores again.
Lloyd struck a penalty from 45 metres to put Ebbw Vale ahead, but Bridgend laid siege to the visiting sides try line during the closing stages of the game with Gatt’s late try sealing a dramatic win.
Scorers: Bridgend: Tries: I Griffith, T Williams, H Barnes, C Woollerton, J Gatt; Cons: L Price 2. Ebbw Vale: Tries: M Flanagan, J Franchi, E Phillips; Cons E Lloyd 3; Pens: E Lloyd 2
