by Rhys Owain Jones
Newport secured an impressive win in the capital city to set up a mouth-watering final on Sunday.
The Black & Ambers conquered table-toppers Cardiff on their own patch in the Super Rygbi Cymru semi-final with a brilliant 35-20 win.
The victory means a date with Ebbw Vale on 18 May for the right to be crowned champions of the inaugural SRC competition.
The hosts got out of the starting blocks quickest and built a 10-point lead within the first quarter of an hour. A Lloyd Lucas penalty opened the scoring before Ethan Lloyd bagged the game’s first try. Lucas duly added the conversion.
It took the B&As 35 minutes to open their account for the afternoon. From an attacking scrum on Cardiff’s 22-metre line, Dafydd Buckland fed in-form Iestyn Galton who saw a gap, dodged a defender, and dived over for his fourth try in five games.
Jac Lloyd added a penalty to cut the deficit, however it was the Blue & Blacks who had the final say in the first half. An awkward high ball led to a nasty clash between Carwyn Penny and Cardiff’s Joe Goodchild, before winger Elijah Evans picked up the loose ball and scored his side’s second of the afternoon. Lucas converted.
Luckily, Carwyn was unhurt, but despite a late Jac Lloyd penalty kick, Cardiff were heading into the half-time break with a six-point lead.
HANNER AMSER: Cardiff 17-11 B&As
Five minutes into the second half, Newport took the lead. A simple, but effective, catch-and-drive phase earned them their second try of the afternoon, with Tyler Olding taking the credit on the scoresheet.
Despite Jac’s conversion, Lloyd Lucas put Cardiff back in front with a penalty. This lead, however, was only to last until the 65th minute.
Tyler scored his second try of the afternoon, and third of the season, when the B&As’ persistent pressure on the Blue & Blacks’ red zone proved too hot to handle.
Then, only a few minutes later, Newport were in seventh heaven. The visitors took advantage of a costly overthrown Cardiff lineout in the hosts’ own twenty-two, spreading the ball wide and eventually to Jon Morris who crossed over on his 175th appearance for the club.
On an afternoon when even the Cardiff public announcer awarded him ‘Seren y Gêm’, Jac Lloyd added both conversions and a further penalty to end a memorable afternoon for the Black & Ambers at the home of their famous rivals and book a place in next week’s grand final!
SGÔR TERFYNOL: Cardiff 20-35 B&As
Just 80 minutes separates either Newport or Ebbw Vale from being crowned Super Rygbi Cymru champions on Sunday. Kick-off will be at 2.30pm and details of the venue will be confirmed soon.
Whatever the result next week, it has been an incredible season for the club as it celebrates its historic sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary.
From sunny pre-season in the sweat-soaked cotton jerseys and that special evening at the Celtic Manor, to a third-placed finish in the SRC regular season and those impressive wins at Rodney Parade, whilst saying goodbye to some beloved friends along the way, it has certainly been a season we will cherish forever.
There couldn’t be a more fitting way to end it… could there?
For one last time this season, join the B&A Wall and get behind…
Your CITY,
Your COLOURS,
Your CLUB!
#COTP #YmlaenCasnewydd