Having already secured the fourth play-off place, the Black & Ambers knew they would have to travel to whichever team finished top of the table and Cardiff ensured they remained in first place with their bonus-point win over Merthyr earlier in the day. That put an end to Llandovery’s hopes of overtaking them, leaving this game with nothing on it other than pride.
“It was a great game, but it always is against Llandovery because we both like to play wide expansive rugby. We went out of structure a little bit, which could be dangerous next week, but it’s the way we play,” said O’Brien.
“When we get momentum in our attack, structure goes out the window. We’ve got a lot of good players who can play heads up rugby.
“We always have a close game against Cardiff, but we definitely don’t want to concede five tries next week like we did against Llandovery. We cancelled each other out in the cup final and we know it’s probably only going to be a one score game, so we’ll have to tighten up defensively.”
Heading to the Arms Park on Sunday (5.15pm kick-off) will give Newport a chance to repeat the heroics of their 18-17 triumph there earlier in the season, as well as give them a chance to avenge their recent WRU Premiership Cup defeat at Principality Stadium. Llandovery will have home advantage over Merthyr in the other semi-final, having finished second.
The hosts edge a blistering seven-try first half in a battle between the Drovers forward and Newport’s backs. Drovers featured the return of Wales prop Samson Lee after 14 months out with a ruptured Achilles.
Ioan Davies heads towards the Llandovry try-line (Pic: Simon Latham)
And he took just two minutes to make an impact, winning a penalty in the game’s opening scrum from which scrum-half Lee Rees darted over. Newport hit back twice from lineouts, first through hooker Jack Gillard before centre Aneurin Owen’s burst handed wing Lloyd Lewis an easy finish.
Drovers fly-half Ioan Hughes and flanker Osian Davies both went over from close range only for Lewis and full-back Ioan Davies to respond from distance. Lee was replaced at half-time and when Matt O’Brien landed his fifth kick with an early penalty, Newport were ahead 31-21.
However Drovers came back with scores from Rees and wing Aaron Warren only to lose control with two yellow cards and a penalty try in the space of four minutes.
Replacement Lloyd Pike was followed by try-scorer Warren whose deliberate infringement on the try line conceded a penalty try and handed back the lead to Newport on 75 minutes. Geraint O’Driscoll finished the move of the match before Luke Crane sealed the win.
Scorers: Newport: Tries: L Lewis 2, J Gillard, T Davies, G O’Driscoll, L Crane, Pen Try; Cons: M O’Brien 6; Pen: M O’Brien. Llandovery: Tries: L Rees 2, I Hughes, O Davies, Aaron Warren; Cons: J Maynard 4.
