Title race back on as Newport stumble

THE Premiership title race has been blown wide open after leaders Newport slipped to their second home defeat in four days.

The Black & Ambers were cruising, unbeaten at the top of the table, but have now lost twice on the bounce to RGC and Merthyr, respectively.

Ty Morris’ side still have a ninepoint lead over second placed Cardiff, but the Blue & Blacks have two games in hand.

Thursday night’s 34-22 defeat to Merthyr was a significant blow because if Cardiff record bonuspoint wins in their final three games against Swansea, Pontypridd, and Merthyr then the title will be theirs.

Adam Hoskins (twice), Craig Locke, and Ashley Norton scored the tries which condemned Newport to defeat against Merthyr. Cameron Lewis (twice), and Will Talbot-davies scored Newport’s tries.

“Up until last week we thought everything was plain sailing, but it just shows the strength of the league,” said Newport forwards coach Sam Hobbs.

“Anybody can beat anyone on their day, and now we have to rely on other results going our way. I think the best team probably won the game. They’ve had a below par season by their standards, but they’ve got some quality Premiership level players, and they definitely deserved to win.”

Today, Cardiff travel to struggling Swansea with an opportunity to significantly close the gap on Newport, while Pontypridd, who can mathematically still win the league, travel to RGC. But Pontypridd head coach Justin Burnell played down his side’s chances.

“We’ve had to work with a very tight budget and that’s totally acceptable in the current climate,” said Burnell. “I think everybody at Pontypridd in terms of the off-field matters are doing a fantastic job.

“Our main focus was obviously to use a lot of youngsters because of the turnaround in players and just to get as far up the league as we can. We didn’t really pitch ourselves where were going to be finished, were obviously happy to be third in the league but as you know with a couple of different results that can change.

“It would be nice to finish in the mid-table, that would be a good finish. Every game in the Premiership is a difficult game, whether you’re top or bottom of the league.

“We’re getting the consistency right with our wins, we’ve just got to work a little bit harder with the consistency of our performance. We’re in a good place.”

Elsewhere, Jason Hyatt’s Aberavon host Euros Evans‘ Llandovery at the Talbot Athletic Ground, while Ebbw Vale take on Carmarthen Quins.