INDIGO PREMIERSHIP ROUND-UP
NEWPORT are gunning for a toptwo finish in the Indigo Premiership to secure a home play-off semi-final – but they haven’t given up on catching leaders Llandovery.
If Ty Morris’ men don’t manage to overhaul the Drovers for top spot, it won’t be for the want of trying.
The Black and Ambers are on a run of eight consecutive bonuspoint wins.
Their latest came after running in seven tries to record a 45-10 triumph over Pontypridd at Sardis Road.
Five of those came in the first half, giving them a 31-3 lead at half-time.
Jac Lloyd, Elliot Frewen, Lloyd Lewis, Josh Reynolds, Josh Skinner and Iwan Pyrs Jones were the try scorers for Newport, who were also awarded a penalty try.
Matt O’Brien added four conversions.
Having also run out 54-3 winners at Newport Stadium back in November it means Newport have run in 99 points against Pontypridd this season.
Newport head coach Ty Morris said: “It was a physical battle, but I think we put it away with just how clinical we were in the first half. Every time we went into their 22, we came away with points.
“We’ve got some big games coming up – Cardiff, Ebbw Vale, Llandovery – and all of them will have a say in where we finish.”
Cai James grabbed a consolation try for Pontypridd, which Ben Burnell improved following Josh Phillips’ earlier penalty.
Pontypridd have announced that coaches Lee Davies, Geraint Lewis, Gareth Wyatt and team manager Dan Godfrey have stepped down from their roles with immediate effect.
Long-serving lock Chris Dicomidis has assumed interim head coach responsibilities for the remainder of the season.
Elsewhere, Carmarthen Quins ran in eight tries in a thumping 56-17 home triumph over Aberavon.
Scrum-half Rhodri Davies scored twice, while No. 8 Lewys Millin, wing Dale Ford, centre Ryan Davies, lock Ryan Bean and replacements Ben Leung and Will Icke were also among the try scorers.
Harri Williams kicked five conversions and two penalties.
The Wizards scored two tries through Rhodri Hughes and Bradley Roderick. James Davies kicked a penalty and conversion, with Roderick also landing a conversion.
The Quins’ victory sees them go above RGC, who were defeated 17-15 at home by bottom club Neath.
Kristian Jones’ late penalty secured a first win on the road this season for the Welsh All Blacks, having battled back from 12-7 down at half-time.
Dion Jones had a chance to snatch it for RGC with the last kick of the game, but his penalty went wide.
Neath’s Chris Morris had earlier bagged himself a brace of tries, which were both converted by Williams. Gareth Parry and Delwyn Jones got the RGC tries. Dion Jones converted Parry’s try and kicked a penalty.