Newport hang on against an onslaught for important win

NEWPORT defended as though their lives depended on it to hang on to their lead and notch up a first win over Llandovery at Church Bank since 2011.

Matt O’Brien kept his nerve to kick three penalties to steer the Black & Ambers to only their second league win of this season to get their season back on track.

“It was always going to be a dogfight in the conditions and we controlled the first 60 minutes,” said Newport head coach Tyron Morris.

“Then we had to defend for our lives as they threw everything at us in the last 20

“Both teams would have woken up on Saturday morning hoping the weather might have been kinder because we both like to play a bit wider.

“But our forwards stuck to their guns and came up with a very important win for us.”

You have to go back to April 2011 for the last time Newport won at Church Bank, when they won 29-18, and they were good value for their victory by three penalties to one on a very wet day.

Outside-half O’Brien put Newport ahead with a penalty and the visitors almost got a try when three players hared after a kick ahead and were just beaten to the touchdown by home wing Harri Doel.

Drovers No. 10 Jack Maynard brought things level with an easy penalty, but it took some ferocious defence from the Llandovery forwards to keep the scores tied 3-3 at the break.

With the advantage of the wind the Drovers pressed hard for the opening try and a fine run by hooker Dafydd Hughes took them into a dangerous position before Newport forced a vital turnover.

Full-back Elliot Frewen then made a brave mark near his line to relieve more pressure and when Newport worked their way upfield, O’Brien kicked an easy penalty to regain the lead.

The Black and Amber pack began to boss the contact area and O’Brien kicked a superb longrange penalty to extend the lead to 9-3 lead with 11 minutes to go.

LLANDOVERY: Pen: J Maynard. NEWPORT: Pens: M O’Brien (3).