FOUR IN A ROW FOR THE BLACK & AMBERS
NEWPORT will now have their eyes firmly fixed on a possible league and cup double after finally achieving their quest for four wins in the same season over arch-rivals Cardiff.
Unbeaten at the top of the Indigo Group Premiership, they have now reached the final of the WRU Premier Cup, where they will meet Aberavon at the Principality Stadium next month.
Equally as important, after 146 years of trying they have completed the ‘Holy Grail’ against the Blue & Blacks.
Their 86-year-old president, former Wales international Brian Jones, was on hand to witness the triumph at Sardis Road, as was former Wales and British & Irish Lions wing Gareth
Evans. Coming the day after the club held a ‘Hall of Fame’ ceremony at Rodney Parade there were plenty of old Black & Ambers feeling very pleased with themselves at the weekend.
“It was a great feeling to reach the cup final again, but to do it by beating Cardiff for the fourth time simply made it extra special. It was a chance we had to take,” said Newport team manager Mark Workman.
“We don’t know if we will ever get the chance to play them four times in one season, so having won the first three we needed to make the most of the opportunity.
“We had a few injuries and didn’t play particularly well, but we got there in the end.”
The lead changed hands five times in a thrilling contest.
Cardiff went clear with an early penalty from Dan Fish and a try from Wales U20 full-back Cam Winnett, before Newport hit back with two first-half tries from wing Will TalbotDavies.
Skipper Matt O’Brien converted them both and also kicked a penalty to draw his side to within a point of Cardiff at the break 18-17.
The Blue & Blacks had added an Alex Everett try and Fish conversion and penalty before the break.
Man of the match O’Brien, who moved seamlessly into the No. 10 position from centre because the Dragons had taken Will Reed with them to South Africa for URC duty, added a third try just after the restart to regain the lead.
Cardiff hit back with an Ellis Bevan try which Fish converted, but a fourth Newport try from prop Jamie Jeaune finished things off.
Fish kicked another penalty to cut the gap to six points, but it was too little, too late
Newport: Tries: W Talbot-Davies (2), M O’Brien, J Jeaune. Cons: M O’Brien (4). Pens: M O’Brien (2).
Cardiff: Tries: C Winnett, A Everett, E Bevan. Cons: D Fish (2). Pens: D Fish (3).