ROACH HAS HIS EYES ON THE SUMMIT
NEWPORT skipper Ben Roach is targeting two more wins to end the Indigo Premiership league campaign on a high to lead them into the play-offs.
With a home draw already in the bag after their 24-6 win over former leaders Llandovery, Roach is now targeting top spot and a potential semi-final shootout with arch rivals Cardiff as they chase their first title since 2004.
“It was good to get the win over Llandovery, but it would have been even nicer to have picked up a bonus point at the end,” said Roach.
“They are a good outfit but we had the confidence and belief off the back of an 11-match winning streak.
“We feel we can beat anyone at home. We are still fighting for top spot and we’ve just got to keep on winning in our final two games against Neath and Bridgend.”
Llandovery suffered a triple whammy as they saw their 17-match unbeaten run come to an end, were knocked off top spot in the table and lost Wales U20 full-back Jac Davies to a suspected broken leg.
It was only their second defeat of the season and once again it came in Gwent, but they still have the opportunity to end the regular league season as top dogs. They have a game in hand on the new leaders and are only four points adrift.
The Black and Ambers underlined their credentials to be considered major contenders for their first title in 20 years with a commanding performance in wet and windy conditions. Their 12th win in a row also confirmed a home draw in the semifinals.
The injury to Davies will mean a change to Llandovery coach Euros Evans’ thinking ahead of the WRU Premier Cup final against Merthyr at the Principality Stadium on Sunday. His likely replacement, Jack Maynard, kicked their only points in Newport with two penalties.
Those kicks gave the Drovers an early lead with the wind but it was the home side who came on strong to secure the win they needed to leapfrog the Drovers at the top of the table. Che Hope’s quick thinking from a tap-penalty saw him lead the charge from just inside the Drovers half before finding half-back partner Matt O’Brien, who finished with aplomb to claim his side’s first try midway through the opening period.
Hope showed a turn of speed to latch onto a kick upfield from just inside his own half by Iwan Pyrs Jones to slide in for his side’s second try in the left corner.
Newport’s victory was sealed five minutes before the end when a clinical catch-and-drive move from a line-out deep in Llandovery’s 22 led to Henry Palmer grabbing his 10th try of the campaign.
O’Brien converted all three tries and kicked a penalty to end the game with a tally of 14 points.
It gained revenge for Newport’s loss at Church Bank in November – their last defeat.