NEWPORT GAIN CRUCIAL WIN OVER WIZARDS
NEWPORT head coach Ty Morris told his players before the game that they needed to win all eight remaining matches to force their way into the play-off picture and this win at the Talbot Athletic Ground was a great start to their quest.
Already in the semi-finals of the WRU Premiership Cup, a trophy they picked up last season, they moved up into sixth to get to within nine points of Ebbw Vale in fourth with a game in hand.
Wins over Jason Hyatt’s Wizards are always hard to come by and it wasn’t until Ioan Davies flew over in the corner in the 76th minute that there was any real daylight between the two teams. The home fans thought he might have been in touch, or at least wished he had been, but the referee got the thumbs up from his assistant and the deed was done for Morris’ men.
If that was the sting in the tale, the Black & Ambers also got off to a flying start. Hooker Henry Palmer once again proved his value as he not only threw into the line-out, but then joined the driving maul that pushed the muchvaunted Aberavon pack back over their line to allow him to bag another close range try.
If that was just the reaction Morris was looking for from his side, he wouldn’t have been so happy to see Nathan Evans depart in the 11th minute for a yellow card offence. Moments later Aled Thomas put the Wizards on the scoreboard with a penalty.
It remained tight in the first half between two enterprising sides, although Newport managed to conjure up a piece of magic that ended with centre Cameron Davies crossing for a candidate for try of the season just before the half-hour mark. Skipper Matt O’Brien added the extras and it remained 12-3 up to the break.
With both packs more of less cancelling each other out, it was always going to be a tense tussle to the end and there were only two more scores in the final 40 minutes. Aberavon moved to within two points just after the hour mark when lock Shay Smallman went over for a try that Thomas converted.
That came with Newport No 8 Rhys Jenkins off the field during a blood bin exchange in the Black & Ambers’ front row.
That score put the visitors under even greater pressure, and in danger of being pushed out of the top-four running, but they stayed strong and stayed in the fight.
Then came the final score of the game from wing Ioan Davies to take his side seven points clear. Now they just have to keep on going!
ABERAVON: