Principality Premiership

Newport 28 Llandovery 20

Llandovery’s good early season form continued to tail off at Rodney Parade where a more cohesive Newport ran out deserved winners, writes Huw S Thomas.

The outstanding win over Ebbw Vale has been followed by a narrow win over Bedwas and defeats at Aberavon and Newport and it now sees the Drovers slide to fifth in the table.

Llandovery were second best to the much improved Black and Ambers in key areas.

They were outsmarted at the line-out, did not have the weight and conviction to compete in the contact area and defended with a lack of urgency behind the scrum.

They also give away twice as many penalties as Newport and in the end were grateful for a losing bonus point through a last-gasp penalty from replacement Steffan Marshall.

The line-out continues to be the Achilles heel of the side with the ball lost in prime positions as opposed to a Newport line out that functioned like clockwork.

It was Llandovery’s weakest performance of the season, the only excuse being that they tried different combinations up front and behind.

The midfield of Jack Maynard, Jacob Cowley and Craig Woodall failed to click and although Cowley showed touches of class reminiscent of All Black dad Regan King, they failed as an unit to impose themselves in attack and defence.

Llandovery Chairman Handel Davies blamed errors and poor decision-making as the cause of defeat.

“You cannot give away penalty after penalty and then continually choose the wrong option,” said Davies

But the malaise went deeper than that with forwards bullied at the breakdown and the backs guilty of poor positioning and slow reactions to what was in front of them.

Devoid of good set-piece possession and quick ball in the loose, the Drovers had to rely too often on individual contributions.

The try by scrum-half Rhodri Davies was a magnificent effort with the Crymych product slipping six tacklers on his way to the line.

But indecision, frail support and a lack of fluency up front and behind were too much to overcome against a Newport side that did the basics better and played with greater gusto.

Wing Will Thomas got an early try and Davies a solo try for Llandovery to lead 16-14 at the break, Newport scoring tries from No 8 Sam Cross and wing Wes Cunliffe.

Accuracy and precision remained elusive and it was no surprise when Newport prop John Lavender powered through some poor tackling.

Maynard dropped a goal but a patient build up ended with replacement prop James Greenfield crashing over for the bonus point home try before Marshall’s consolation strike.

Llandovery’s home game against Neath has been brought forward to this Friday, October 30 (KO 7.30pm)