Llandovery RFC v Newport RFC – 6th December 2025 by John Evans
The unwelcome news that both Jac Lloyd and Matt O’Brien would be unavailable for Llandovery away had many supporters wondering what this Newport team would look like. Not to worry, Carwyn Penny simply moved forward from 15 to 10, the capable Morgan Williams slotted in at full-back, whilst Harrison James continued his run at 12, a position that he played well in at Pontypool.
The heavy rain was quite something as supporters travelled north along the A470. Some of the streams coming off the mountains had to be seen to be believed. It was to prove to be a changeable afternoon with the match getting underway in bright, low winter sun before giving way to a monsoon, all accompanied by a strong gusting wind. Welcome to Wales.
Newport took the field in this season’s black strip with amber trim while the hosts opted for their traditional red and white hoops.
There was a minutes silence for two former Drovers before Carwyn Penny got the game underway, Llandovery scrum half Lee Rees returning the ball to touch. A good drive from the Newport lineout and Josh Skinner was in, acting as scrumhalf, to keep the ball moving. Carwyn Penny made ground, but the kick ahead for Harrison James outpaced the young centre, and Llandovery could clear. Luckily for Newport, the clearing kick got caught on the wind and rolled dead. However, the referee, Mr Gwyn Morris, penalised the Newport front row, killing the opportunity.
Llandovery attacked but were well boxed in by the Black & Ambers defence, until a stray boot went offside. Fullback Jack Maynard stepped forward and slotted the three points, making it Llandovery 3 Newport 0 with 6 minutes played.
Morgan Williams was willing to attack, running back at the red and white shirts. A loose pass from Newport caught out the defence as they had overrun the situation. Carwyn Penny scooped the ball up, putting in an impeccable touch-finder, but Llandovery dealt with the lineout clinically, and Newport were no further forward.
The Drovers were penalised for not releasing in a tackle. Harrison James kicked for the corner. The rolling maul rumbled onward before the ball spun wide. Morgan Williams was tackled, but it was Llandovery that popped up with the ball and were able to clear.
A terrific scrum drive by the Newport pack earned a penalty, Harrison James going to the corner again, placing Newport just 5 metres out. The rolling maul proved irresistible and Wade Langley was the beneficiary, scampering across to score Newport’s first try of the game. Harrison James added the conversion to make the score Llandovery 3 Newport 7 with 15 minutes played.
Good work by Dafydd Buckland saw him claim the high ball, Josh Reid being on hand to carry the ball forward. The Drovers infringed again, but wing Kian Abraham did well to prevent the ball getting to touch. Carwyn Penny tried again, but Jack Maynard performed a similar trick to deny Newport territory.
Llandovery retained possession from the base of a splintering scrum, but centre Rhodri Jones’ kick for wing Ned Bennett to chase was too heavy.
Dafydd Buckland sniped from the base of a scrum, Hunter Ward in close support powered forward, Ben Roach straightened the move up before a long kick for Noah Morgan to chase was ably dealt with by Jack Maynard.
Newport began to exert their forward dominance at this stage, Harry Fry carrying hard, Josh Skinner secured possession, Chay Foster-Smith battered a way forward, but Llandovery infringed again, Newport going to the corner. The rolling maul that followed the lineout went to ground, all seeming a little rushed. Josh Skinner and Wade Langley made lunges at the line, but the home defence stayed firm. However, another penalty was coming, but the option to tap and go was a puzzling one, and exactly what Llandovery would have wanted. In the middle of all this, Llandovery number 8, Osian Davies, was offered a nice little sit down for ten minutes for persistent infringement. Harry Fry was also withdrawn temporarily for blood, Tom Workman taking his place in the front row.
A neat chip saw Drovers centre Adam Warren catch the ball, but the Newport defence was up to it, ultimately forcing Llandovery backward, then gaining a penalty as the hosts found themselves colliding in midfield.
Morgan Williams did well to take the ball under pressure on 30 minutes, Josh Reid being a willing carrier in support. Noah Morgan chased hard, but Ben Roach’s buccaneering run was short by the width of about one blade of 4G surface cover, being judged to have been held up. Llandovery restarted from their try line, Newport carrying back with determination, Hunter Ward receiving a high tackle for his trouble. Flanker Evan Sheldon was in trouble for that one, seeing yellow and invited to cool his boots for a bit. Harrison James kicked Newport to the corner again, but the 6-man pack had no answers for a rampant Newport eight, and Wade Langley scored his second try of the day. Harrison James converted to make it Llandovery 3 Newport 14 on 33 minutes.
Newport sought to exploit Llandovery’s lack of bodies, but Llandovery played smart in keeping the ball alive and away from the threat of the mighty Newport pack. Dafydd Buckland drove Newport onwards and caught a lucky break when the Drovers fumbled a ball 25-metres out. Morgan Williams kicked a ball ahead and went to catch his own kick, but big second row Harry Holden deliberately blocked him. Newport went quickly while Llandovery were still streaming back in defence, Chay Foster-Smith carved a path forward, but it was Noah Morgan who skipped in at the corner. Harrison James’ conversion went across the face of the posts, making the score Llandovery 3 Newport 19 as the senior XVs made way for a halftime game between Llandovery and Llandeilo Under-9s.
Half Time: Llandovery RFC 3 Newport RFC 19
Llandovery’s Ioan Hughes restarted the game. Harrison James caught the ball; Josh Reid trucked it forward before Dafydd Buckland could boot it clear. Jack Maynard returned the kick, but Newport played with an advantage, Morgan Williams’ neat kick to touch inside the Llandovery 22 being judged advantage enough by Mr Morris.
Noah Morgan did well to cleanly take the ball under pressure on 42 minutes before Harrison James’ kick bounced perfectly over Jack Maynard to land in touch perfectly in the far corner of the field.
Newport yielded a penalty at a 48th minute scrum, Lee Rees going quickly, Kian Abraham coming in off his wing to add to the attack. The Drovers Heavy Gang set about the Newport line, the pods almost stagnating in their lack of progress. The Black & Amber resistance was ferocious, but a Llandovery player did cross the line. However, puzzlingly, Mr Morris’ signals were unclear, and one couldn’t be sure what had happened, but the fact that Llandovery were awarded an attacking scrum, 5-metres out, lead you to believe that Newport had, somehow, knocked on. Ollie Drake relieved Garin Harris of duty before a critical scrum. The Newport front row got a shove on, Dafydd Buckland made things difficult for Osian Davies, but Lee Rees, Rhodri Jones all bustled forward before flanker Evan Sheldon ducked under a tackle to dot the ball down for a score. Jack Maynard added the conversion to make the score Llandovery 10 Newport 19 with 52 minutes played.
Momentum appeared to be swinging Llandovery’s way; Newport were giving Lee Rees lots of time and space to dictate the running of the game, something he’s very good at. The Black & Ambers were penalised again, Rees spotting gaps and bringing players onto him. However, a superb carry by Ben Roach away from a lineout, before going wide and Harrison James earning a 50:22 for Newport. Sadly, the resulting pass to Chay Foster-Smith was unsympathetic and the ball was spilled forward.
Wade Langley made way for Henry Palmer on 59 minutes, just as Harry Fry made an excellent tackle to halt an attack, followed by an equally good tackle by Josh Skinner which regained possession for Newport. Llandovery, though, were about to move into top gear. Their loose forwards were getting a head of steam, running at the gaps around the Newport defence and making ground. Lee Rees had the ability to see the gaps, and a great kick by Jack Maynard bounced nicely for Kian Abraham to sprint in to score. Jack Maynard’s conversion drifted wide, so the score now was Llandovery 15 Newport 19 on 64 minutes.
Tiger Chatham took over from Josh Reid, while Josh Skinner made way for Callun Bradbury.
Llandovery gained lineout ball and went forward in waves. Newport tried to shut the door, but replacement hooker Josh Morse’s eventual score had just a whiff of double movement about it. Jack Maynard added the two-pointer to make it Llandovery 22 Newport 19 on 69 minutes.
Lucas Welsh replaced Dafydd Buckland as Llandovery nicked another Newport lineout, leading one to believe that they may well have cracked Newport’s lineout calls. Cerrig Smith limped off injured to be replaced by Kobi Rees.
Tom Workman eventually replaced Harry Fry on 78 minutes as Callum Bradbury nicked a lineout of his own. Harrison James tried to use to wind to Newport’s advantage, but Jack Maynard did well to keep the ball alive.
Fin Baker was helped from the field after a heavy knock, Tom Hoppe taking his place. With time running out, and Newport deep in their own half, the Black & Ambers needed a final throw of the dice. It nearly worked. Harrison James passed out, Lucas Welsh broke, passing wide to Ben Roach who galloped forward, into the Llandovery half. Newport had lots of possession and a pass out to Tiger Chatham kept momentum going. They were patient, Tiger Chatham and Tom Workman double-teamed to create a wedge in the defence. Chay Foster-Smith carried hard and the Black & Ambers edged closer, but a final pass to Henry Palmer appeared to be spilled in the act of scoring.
Newport left Church Bank with just the one point when it should probably have been four.
Full Time: Llandovery RFC 22 Newport RFC 19
The Black & Ambers now have two home fixtures, against Aberavon on December 13th and RGC on December 20th to look forward to. This, of course, presents Newport supporters a chance to pick up their goodies for under the Christmas tree! The club shop will be open at both games but get in early as stock may be limited. After Christmas Day, Newport are on the road again, on December 27th, when they travel to North Wales to face RGC in what is laughably called the ‘rivals round’ when we’re supposed to play teams geographically close to us. Hey ho.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Final Score – Llandovery RFC RFC 22 Newport RFC 19
Seren y Gem – Harrison James