By Gareth James
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 after beating them 34-28 in the WRU Premier Cup semi-final at Sardis Road.
Unbeaten at the top of the Indigo Group Premiership, they have now reached the final of the WRU Premiership 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.
Full Time Score – Newport 34 – 28 Cardiff. pic.twitter.com/v6cuAXFc10
— Newport RFC (@NewportRFC) March 26, 2022
“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 Talbot-Davies.
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 re-start 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.
https://twitter.com/llandoveryrfc/status/1508474333055885312
Llandovery had beaten Aberavon twice in the Premiership Cup West Conference before Christmas – 24-18 and 27-21 – but it was the Wizards who made their way to the WRU Premier Cup final at the Principality Stadium to face Newport on 24 April.
It will give them another chance to lay their hands on a Cup that has eluded the famous old club ever since the competition started in 1971. Bridesmaids in 1974, 1975 and 2011, Jason Hyatt’s men will now be aiming to become the 13th club to win the title.
It was a game that was on a knife edge at the end, Llandovery coming back from 21-0 down to take the lead 23-21only to let Aberavon off the hook in the last ten minutes when they refused two kicks at goal in search of a try.
https://twitter.com/mazj_uk/status/1507876565757186057
The Aberavon supporters were delighted following the semi final win and expressed their thanks to head coach Jason Hyatt and his coaching staff for the fantastic job they have done at the club. Jason Hyatt had steered the Wizards away from relegation as recently as 2014 and has got his side competing at the top of the Indigo Premiership in recent years.
“The nerves kicked in at the death, they (Llandovery) had beaten us twice already this season. It was an amazing game and it is brilliant that Aberavon making these big occasion’s. The team have been building under Jason Hyatt these past few years and they thoroughly deserve some silverware for what they have done for the club.”
On neutral Merthyr’s 4G pitch, play was predictably fast and furious in a rousing semi final.
The early pressure was all on the Drovers and Aberavon took the lead when they attacked from deep to put wing Stef Andrews racing away and his kick ahead was swooped upon by full back Jon Phillips who crossed for a pass out wide.
https://twitter.com/JasonHyatt01/status/1508033601564250113
Fly half Aled Thomas converted and the Wizards nearly got their second try when Phillips spilled a golden opportunity.
A yellow card for Jones for a deliberate knock on made things worse for Llandovery who went further behind when conceding a penalty try at the scrummage.
Centre Will Price then swerved through the middle for a solo try, converted by Thomas but Llandovery scrum half Lee Rees brought much relief by sniping through from close range for a try converted by full back Tomi Lewis.
The Llandovery revival continued when Lewis himself slipped tackles to cross wide out and leave the score 21-12 in Aberavon’s favour.
https://twitter.com/AberavonRFC/status/1508147669822226433
A Jones penalty inched Llandovery closer and things got better when a charging run from replacement hooker Craig Thomas gave Rees the chance to sprint home from 30 metres.
The wind was in Llandovery sails only for Jones to miss a 30 metre penalty but he soon made amends from 25 metres and a 23-21 lead.
The lead lasted two minutes, replacement fly half Dan Edwards kicking a goal from 45 metres.
In a grandstand finish Llandovery refused two kicks at goal in search of the try and with the final kick of the game Jones missed a difficult penalty to let an exhausted Aberavon off the hook.
Newport will face Aberavon on the 24th April at the Principality Stadium in a huge cup final for two historic rivals.