Newport denied by Llandovery in tense Premiership final

The Black and Ambers earned a shot at their first title since 2004 thanks to a 15-game winning streak but crucially couldn’t make it 16.

The Drovers took the spoils to defend their trophy and make it a double after they lifted the Premiership Cup in April.

As expected, it was a nip and tuck encounter between the two sides who have set the standard for the Premiership this season.

The teams were locked at 7-7 at half-time after tries were traded by Newport loosehead Josh Reynolds and the Drovers’ ex-Dragons centre Adam Warren.

The key score came in the opening stages of the second half when centre Rhodri Jones sneaked over in the right corner.

That it needed TMO clearance - which was later to kill Newport hopes of a leveller - was apt given how tight things were between the sides.

Alas, Newport were left to rue missed opportunities with their usually potent attack limited to one try by a combination of strong Drovers defence and little inaccuracies.

Had you offered limited Llandovery to 14 points they would have taken it yet, perhaps due to the occasion, too many passes went off fingertips and too many balls went loose.

Newport must now lick their wounds and try to go from being Premiership runners-up to winners of the inaugural Elite Domestic Competition next season.

The challenge for the Welsh Rugby Union is to get the eight other teams up to the standard of this season's leading pair.

Captain Ben Roach on the charge (Image: Huw Evans Agency) (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

It was a physical start as both sides attempted to stamp their authority on the game with big shots, on and off the ball.

Newport were agonisingly close to taking the lead in the sixth minute when scrum-half Che Hope set wing Elliot Frewen in motion down the left but Adam Warren’s scrambling tackle forced an inside pass that was picked off.

The Drovers showed their attacking intent through livewire scrum-half Lee Rees but the first strike came through the tight game.

Matt O’Brien’s 50:22 allowed the pack to put the pressure on and hard carrying eventually led to loosehead Reynolds going over from close range, his fly-half converting for 7-0 in the 11th minute.

The Drovers responded to level up in the 19th minute when former Dragons centre Warren went over down the left after a driving lineout was stopped just short, Ioan Hughes adding the extras.

Newport had a chance to restore their lead when flanker Osian Davies was yellow-carded for a high shot on Nathan Evans after TMO intervention in the 24th minute but chances in the ‘red zone’ went begging.

O’Brien knocked on when taking the direct route for a short ball and then the Drovers won a timely jackal penalty after a dashing offloading attack featuring Josh Reid, Ben Roach, Joe Westwood and Che Hope.

The Black and Ambers were forcing things a little and not quite at their slickest, yet were sparked into life again in the 36th minute by a brilliant bit of magic by full-back David Richards.

Newport were too slow getting back to a long kick and dotted down for a goalline drop-out… but the Drovers were too slow in their chase.

The full-back kicked it five metres, reclaimed and started a counter-attack that was only ended in the 22 by a Llandovery knock-on.

Sadly, another good defensive read from the set move meant another opportunity went begging and then it was the Drovers’ turn to lament a missed chance with the final play of the half, Hope and Frewen defending well to deny them after a driving lineout.

Josh Reynolds scored Newport's try (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

However, there was no denying the reigning champions just two minutes after the restart when centre Rhodri Jones crossed down the right despite the desperate covering tackle of Reynolds that forced there to be a TMO check.

The try was good and Hughes’ conversion was excellent to give the hosts a 14-7 lead.

The Drovers, and Warren, were over again in the 52nd minute only to be denied by the TMO and a knock-on then a devastating Newport counter to the 22 by centre Chay Foster-Smith, Frewen and Hope went pointless after they lost their shape and composure in the 22.

Foster-Smith then had the ball dislodged by a thundering hit close to the line before Newport felt they were right back in it on the hour when captain Roach went over down the right after a break by wing Lloyd Lewis.

But before O’Brien could attempt his conversion referee Rhys Jones was called to the side to watch the footage and it was deemed that flanker Josh Skinner had blocked off a defender before centre Westwood had sent the speedster running free.

It was manic stuff but the clock wasn’t Newport’s friend.

Successive penalties allowed them to try to close within two, and have a shot at a leveller, but the Drovers held firm with the defensive drive to turn the ball over with eight minutes to go.

Hughes nearly clinched victory with three to go but his penalty hit the left post, giving the Black and Ambers the chance of forcing extra time.

However, they never got close enough to strike with the Drovers killing the clock at the death before booting the ball dead to defend their crown.

Llandovery scorers: tries – Warren, R Jones; conversions – Hughes (2).

Newport scorers: try – Reynolds; conversion – O’Brien.