Newport RFC moved up to third spot in Super Rygbi Cymru with a comprehensive 33-7 victory against Carmarthen Quins at a crisp winter’s afternoon in Newport Stadium.
Former Scarlets winger Steff Evans gave the visiting Quins the perfect start when dancing over in the fifth minute for Elis Price to convert from the touchline. However, after that is was all Black & Amber as the home side dominated proceedings thereafter.
Ty Morris’s side scored three first half tries to go down the tunnel 21-7 at the break, but Newport should have already wrapped up a bonus point by then but they squandered several clear cut scoring chances.
Despite having the better of the second half, with a strong wind behind them, Newport had to wait until the 60th minute to secure their bonus point when Lloyd Lewis scored.
He finished the job 12 minutes later when adding his second – both converted by Jac Lloyd.
Newport equalised when winger Fin Baker was worked over in the corner after livewire scrum half Dafydd Buckland had put the home side on the front foot. Lloyd’s conversion boomeranged over to level the score.
The new front row of Jordan Morris, Henry Palmer and Luke Yendle were all involved in the lead-up to the next try, before second row Josh Skinner produced an audacious pass out the back door to send Carwyn Penny racing over.
Buckland then sprinted clear after Ioan Rhys Davies and Baker had splintered the Quins defence. With Lloyd’s third successful conversion, Newport were 21-7 ahead and firmly in control.
Quins struggled to get a foothold in the match but kept Newport out until the 72nd minute when Buckland whipped out a pass to the unmarked Lewis who had the simple task of securing the bonus point for Ty Morris’s side.
Lloyd’s conversion put the icing on the cake for Newport as they claimed a maximum haul against a deflated Quins outfit.
Meanwhile, Ebbw Vale delivered another dominant display on the road as they won the top-of-the-table showdown convincingly at Llandovery to move 20 points clear of the Drovers in Super Rygbi Cymru.
Centre Dom Franchi touched down in each half for the visitors, who also had flanker Sion Parry, No 8 Ryan Jenkins and replacement Cam Davies also among their scorers.
Outside half Evan Lloyd had a perfect night from the tee, converting all five tries and kicking two penalties.
This win, an eighth on the spin, also made it 12 wins from 13 matches for The Steelmen, who have taken the full six points on offer from 10 of those. Jason Strange’s side have picked up 71 points from a possible 78 this season.
Finally, Bridgend Ravens’ clash with Pontypool in this round of fixtures at the Brewery Field had already been put back a week and will now be played next Saturday (10 January).
