The Gogs wrapped up a bonus-point win to go within a point of Merthyr in fifth place, leaving the Black & Ambers stranded in seventh in the Indigo Premiership having suffered back-to-back away defeats. RGC now have Llandovery in their sights this weekend in another massive match at Parc Eirias.
“We made too many errors and gave away too many penalties in the first half-hour. We gave away eight penalties and Newport had 75% possession, although credit to the boys, it was only 7-3 on the scoreboard,” said RGC head coach Ceri Jones.
“We spoke at halftime about moving out of first gear. Our fitness levels showed up well and we got he bonus-point as our endeavour was rewarded.
“It was pleasing for us to give Paddy, Sam Stoddart, Morgan Bagshaw and Osian Burt game time. Osian getting a try on his debut got the biggest reaction from the players, as he has been with us from pre-season and works really hard.
“We move on to Llandovery and a chance pick up points against another top team. If we are to be in with a chance of a top four finish then games like Newport and Llandovery are the ones we need to win”
Dion Jones kicked RGC into an early lead, but Newport hit back with tries from hooker Henry Palmer from a driving line-out and then replacement wing Tom Richards, who came on for injury victim Euan Rosser. Geraint O’Driscoll converted them both and it looked as though Newport were set for a good afternoon.
But the home pack got a feel for things and successive tries from Jordan Jones at driving line-out mauls, the second one converted by Dion Joens, sent the Gogs into the break with their noses in front at 15-14.
Things simply got better and better for RGC in the second half as scrum half Efan Jones picked up and went over after good work by wing Rhys Tudor and then Tudor himself went over for the bonus point try. Dion Jones converted both and the gap rose to 15 points.
Newport needed a reaction and back row man Ben Roach provided it with a try that O’Driscoll improved as they closed the gap to eight points. What they needed was another try to pick up at least one bonus-point.
As they pushed hard, Afon Baghsaw intercepted and raced clear before Burt marked his debut with a fifth home try that was converted by Morgan Bagshaw.
The Drovers were able to complete an Indigo Premiership double over their visitors as they followed up their 23-12 win at Sardis Road with a narrow 20-18 triumph at Church Bank.
It meant Evans’ side were able to hang on to second place in the Premiership table – just ahead of Aberavon – and were mightily relieved to take the four points in the face of a determined challenge from underrated Ponty. The visitors had the better of possession for long periods but they lacked a cutting edge behind the scrum.
They took a 9-0 lead with three penalties from fly half Jamie Murphy but a close range try from hooker Craig Thomas plus a conversion and penalty from full back Jack Maynard put the Drovers ahead 10-9 at the break
Murphy’s fourth penalty regained the lead before Llandovery moved the ball from deep to end with flanker Jordan Evans sending skipper and scrum half Lee Rees racing in for a converted try. Ponty rallied, wing Niko Matawalu scoring after a drive line out, Murphy converting for a 19-17 lead.
A Maynard penalty inched the home side back ahead but then Murphy missed a relatively easy penalty to leave Llandovery off the hook. Despite yellow cards for Ponty replacements Cai James and Tom Harper, the Drovers could find no way through the resolute 13 man defence.
The Wizards recorded their tenth league win of this campaign and are still in the all-important top four as the Indigo Premiership title race hots up.
The visitors had their bonus-point for scoring four tries before the interval and were never really in trouble against a side that has won only two games all season.
Wing Steff Andrews, flanker Lloyd Evans, full back Jon Phillips, who scored a brace, and scrum-half Liam Seaward, hooker Ieuan Davies, centre Callum Carson and replacement Rhodri Cole all crossed for tries or the Wizards.
Aberavon opened the scoring after only two minutes when wing Andrews crossed for the try, which was converted by fly-half Aled Thomas. Thomas added a penalty before flanker Evans added a second try which was converted by Thomas to make it 17-0 after 15 minutes.
Llanelli were then awarded a penalty try when Aberavon were ruled to have brought down a driving lineout illegally to haul them back into the contest at 17-7. Full back Phillips crossed for his first and second try, with Thomas converting both, to stretch Aberavon’s lead to 31-7 at half-time.
After the break, Seaward, Davies, Carson and Cole all crossed for tries for the visitors, while Llanelli centre Joe Hutchings crossed for two tries for the home side.
