NEWPORT went down to an agonising last second defeat at the hands of Llandovery who reeled off their fourth win in 13 days, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Black and Ambers had far the better of the game right up to the end before a breakaway try led by Aaron Warren and finished in controversial circumstances by wing Lee Williams secured the home win.

Referee Aaron Parry first refused the try for a Williams knock on in goal but was overruled by his touch judge to the consternation of Newport players.

It was only Newport’s second defeat in 10 games but they will have a chance of revenge come Saturday when they face the Drovers once again but this time at neutral Aberavon in the semi-final of the National Cup.

Newport came very close to a first minute try when squandering a two on one a few feet from the Llandovery line but soon went 3-0 up thanks to a penalty from full back Geraint O’Driscoll.

A free-flowing Llandovery attack then ended with prop Jamie Hughes taking a short crash ball to power through but O’Driscoll then found the mark again from a difficult angle.

Fly-half Jack Maynard restored the home lead with a 40 metre effort before a dominant Newport scrum was instrumental in getting wing Harri Lang in for a try wide out, converted by O’Driscoll.

Play went back and fore, Maynard struck another straight penalty only for O’Driscoll to put the visitors into a 16-11 interval lead with another very good kick.

The battle of the kickers continued with a third success for Maynard and a failure for O’Driscoll as both sides slugged it out.

Maynard, too, missed for the first time but soon made amends with a 30 metre effort as the two sides strove for a crucial score with a quarter of an hour to go.

When home flanker Duane Eager was yellow carded on the floor, O’Driscoll slotted the kick to take Newport ahead 19-17 - and seemingly on the way to victory.

An O’Driscoll miss gave Llandovery a life line and a kick ahead by replacement Aaron Warren was touched down by wing Lee Williams in the last movement of the game to rob Newport of victory.

Llandovery: Tries: J Hughes, L Williams; Con: J Maynard; Pens: J Maynard (4)

Newport: Try: H Lang; Con: G O’Driscoll; Pens: G O’Driscoll (4)