Sardis Road in Pontypridd played host to a tense battle in the Indigo Premiership this afternoon as Newport edged a narrow victory over their hosts. After having the game stolen away from them in the reverse fixture at Rodney Parade, the travelling side will be relieved to hold onto 4 crucial points to take them 2 points above Swansea in the league.
Newport failed to gather the kick-off and Pontypridd immediately put the pressure on the Newport defence. After a number of phases, the black and ambers strayed offside and gave away a penalty which was converted by Ponty outside-half Diggy Bird from the left. Newport had the chance to draw level 9 minutes later after referee Ben Whitehouse awarded them a penalty in the home teams 22. Newport surprisingly turned the points down and Matt O’Brien kicked the ball to the corner. However, Newport were rewarded for their bravery as hooker Matt O’Dwyer profited from a driving lineout to cross for the afternoons first try. O’Brien dragged the conversion wide. Ponty retook the lead minutes later, this time Bird from the left. Pontypridd came close to grabbing their first try when Diggy Bird slid a grubber through to Dale Stuckey who couldn’t gather. Bird extended their lead on the half-hour mark as he struck over his third penalty of the game after he was obstructed chasing his own kick. The half came to a close with the away team retaking the lead once again. An O’Brien highball was knocked forward by Ponty fullback Ben Jones and gratefully into the arms of Andrew Mann who jogged under the posts for Newport’s second. O’Brien this time added the extras.
Not long after the break Newport had winger Elliot Frewen sent to the bin for 10 minutes for a high tackle. Although, Pontypridd failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage, not scoring any points whilst Frewen watched on from the sideline. Diggy Bird’s second missed penalty the closest they came to scoring in that period. With an hour on the clock, O’Brien had the chance to extend ‘ports lead, but his kick was wide to the left. Newport picked up their third try of the afternoon with 5 minutes left. O’Brien kicked to the corner and the Newport maul was once again too powerful for the Ponty forwards. They rumbled over from 5 metres, Tom Pascoe the beneficiary this time. Ben Jones rescued a losing bonus point with a penalty with full time looming. There was drama right until the final whistle in Pontypridd as Elliot Frewen received his second yellow card and subsequent red, this time for a deliberate knock-on. However, Newport stole the ball and O’Brien launched it out to seal a crucial victory for the black and ambers.
Ponty were dominant at times but failed to breach the stubborn Newport defence. Justin Burnell’s men have no time to feel sorry for themselves as they travel to local rivals Merthyr next week. Newport have a week’s break before they travel to Llanelli on 13th March.
Haydn Evans 