Newport made it a perfect 10 in the Indigo Premiership as they beat basement boys Neath 33-26 to keep up the pressure on Llandovery.
It was a much-changed Black and Ambers line-up, with 10 changes from the side that started against Cardiff, with Ty Morris keen to rest a few tired bodies ahead of upcoming battles against Ebbw Vale and Llandovery.
But despite some changes in personnel Newport still had their bonus point in the bag by half time against Neath, running in four converted unanswered tries in the first half to lead 28-0.
Captain Ben Roach bulldozed his way over for the opening try after eight minutes and that was followed by further scores from full-back Lewis Bates, hooker Tyler Olding and flanker Kyle Taylor before the break. Outside half Jac Lloyd added the extras to all four of them.
Prop Tom Workman scored a fifth Newport try after the break, this time unconverted, before a raft of changes from the bench. To their immense credit, Neath refused to fold and a penalty try just before the hour mark sparked a revival from the visitors in the final quarter – in their first match under new interim head coach Tim Ryan.
Further tries from Jack Powell, Louis Rees and Kristian Jones saw Neath leave with two bonus points. Steff Williams improved the Powell and Rees tries.
“First half performance we wanted to start really big, first 20 minutes with high intensity and being accurate and we did that, we were excellent,” said Newport head coach Ty Morris.
“I encouraged the boys and said to them at half time that we’ve just got to continue that but, unfortunately, maybe too many changes at once probably disrupted us a little bit and allowed Neath to get a foothold in the game – and credit to Neath they fought all the way to be honest.”
The Black & Ambers’ latest bonus-point triumph was their 10th in a row. Already assured of a play-off spot, they are now five points behind reigning champions Llandovery with four regular matches to play.
Crucially for Newport, they are also now 15 clear of third-placed Ebbw Vale – who they visit next Saturday – as they now look to cement a top two finish that would also secure them a home play-off.
A bonus point win at Eugene Cross Park would not only avenge their 28-20 defeat by the Steelmen earlier on in the campaign, but would take Newport level on points with Llandovery heading into their top of the table clash on 28 March.
But Morris said winning – however it comes – is all that matters.
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“It’s a derby game for us and that cup final mentality to win as much as anything else and, if the bonus points come, that’ll be a bonus,” he said.
“It’s a derby game for us and that cup final mentality to win as much as anything else and, if the bonus points come, that’ll be a bonus,” he said.
“Our focus has been on getting the job done against Neath and now it’s about Ebbw Vale as we look to reach our target of finishing in that top two and being at home in the play-off.”
