By: Paul Hopkins
A much improved All Whites side came away from Spytty Stadium with two bonus points in a match that felt there for the taking in the second half.
The writing looked on the wall for the visitors early on when a superb break by centre David Richards caught the Whites’ defence half asleep. Hooker Wade Langley was on hand to power over the 22, although fly half Will Reed chose to chip ahead and the ball crept into touch.
Number eight Ben Roach took the lineout on half way and centre Harri Ackerman was well tackled by the visitors, who gained possession through hooker Jamie Cox. Centre Callum Dodd then showed good strength to set up an attack, but the Black and Ambers secured a turnover and Reed cleared.
A great lineout take by lock Ben Roberts set up another attack for the All Whites and the home side turned the ball over, with Reed finding touch just shy of the 22.
Winger Chay Foster-Smith spilled a high kick into the arms of opposite number Harri Houston, who set up a platform for the visitors, but winger Ieuan Cornelius’ chip ahead was well dealt with by flanker Kyle Tayler and the home side were able to clear.
The visitors gave away a penalty at the scrum on half way and Reed chose to kick deep into the 22, finding touch five metres out. Roach took the lineout and a powerful rolling maul saw Langley crash over for a try. Reed missed the conversion.
The visitors immediately gained possession from the restart with full back Max Nagy taking a crash ball, before the home side scavenged a turnover and a long chip ahead by Ackerman was initially dealt with by Nagy, but he then tried to show some enterprise and was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
Reed chipped to the corner and this time the visitors managed to stop the rolling maul and secured a turnover through flanker Owen Thomas, with scrum half Matthew Aubrey completing the clearance to touch.
Lock Joe Peard took the lineout and Ackerman was stopped on a crash ball, but Tayler lost the ball forward. Play was brought back for a penalty, which Reed chipped into the corner.
Newport opted to use their backs with first Ackerman, and then flanker Josh Skinner, charging towards the line, but the latter lost possession forward at the crucial moment.
Roach took a lineout midway between half way and the Swansea 22 and Langley powered forward, before a clever chip through by Reed was misjudged by Cornelius and instead taken by winger Elliot Frewen, who collected and handed a scoring pass to scrum half Luke Crane.
Langley raced 40 metres upfield past poor Whites would-be tackles, but to their credit the visitors managed to get back to defend well.
Two minutes later the Black and Ambers were back at it and an incredible piece of juggling by Richards saw teammate Reed benefit, as he burrowed through for a try that he also converted.
A high tackle on Nagy from the restart gave the visitors a penalty, which fly half Josh Phillips chipped deep into the corner. Roberts rose high to collect the lineout and a 13 man rolling maul saw flanker Geraint Powell dive over for the visitors’ first try. Reed converted.
A superb run down the wing by full back Carwyn Penny almost resulted in a fourth Newport try, but he failed to release the pass, and instead centre Joe Thomas intercepted a flat Crane inside pass and the Whites were able to clear.
The home pack powered forward at a scrum, earning a penalty that Reed kicked up to the 22. A powerful rolling maul by the Black and Ambers’ pack took play up to within two metres of the line, but the ball was spilled forward.
A clever grubber kick by Reed found touch five metres short of the Swansea line, but lock Chris Thompson managed to rise high at the lineout to deal with the danger and Aubrey cleared long.
From out of nowhere, Roberts and Skinner were both sin-binned by referee Rhys Jones for their part in a fight.
A poor lineout throw by Cox was collected by the home side, who were then awarded a penalty after the Whites’ defence failed to release the man after the tackle.
Reed found touch around six metres from the line, and the home side chose to get the ball out to the backline, a decision that did not pay off as they were turned over. Instead, Ackerman raced through the middle and came within a metre from scoring, but replacement centre Harri Williams crucially intercepted his inside pass.
Half-time:- Newport 19-7 Swansea
A superb up-and-under by Nagy was collected by the full back and the home side spread play out wide to Dodd, who raced down the wing and handed a scoring pass to replacement winger Lewis Edwards. Phillips converted.
A powerful burst by prop Cameron Jones got the visitors on the front foot, and a well angled box kick by Aubrey earned Swansea good territorial advantage.
Nagy and Owen Thomas combined to run the ball back into the Newport 22, with number eight Joe Greaves inching forward and the visitors were then awarded a penalty after the Newport defence killed the ball. Phillips turned down the kickable penalty to instead chip into the corner.
A clever short lineout to Chris Thompson almost saw the visitors’ pack drive over, before the ball was released out to Nagy who powered over for a try. Phillips kicked his side into an unlikely lead with half an hour left to play.
Roach took a lineout on half way as the Black and Ambers looked to respond, but an outstanding last ditch tackle by Nagy stopped Frewen in his tracks, and a horrible pass out wide by Reed sailed behind everyone into touch.
The visitors were penalised for an infringement at the scrum, allowing Phillips to find touch inside the Newport 22. Roberts took the lineout and the Whites got the ball out into midfield, but a patient Newport defence resulted in Swansea being penalised for fiving over the top of a ruck.
Powell collected an Aubrey high kick, but replacement centre Ioan Davies responded with a great take of his own, with Reed finding touch deep inside the Swansea half.
A poor lineout was taken by replacement prop Harry Fry, who drove up to the 22, and a chip ahead caught Phillips in a difficult position as he stepped into touch a metre short of the line.
The Black and Ambers made a mess of the resulting lineout, but managed to regain possession, although Frewen spilled the ball forward.
Replacement full back Jac Lloyd ran the ball back at the visitors, but only made it to half way before he was well tackled. Instead, a chip ahead by Reed was dealt with by the Whites, although the visitors were caught in front of a miscued Aubrey high kick.
Reed found touch inside the Swansea 22 and the home side came close to scoring under the posts, but Frewen was tackled after dancing past a defender. Play was brought back for a penalty under the posts, with Newport opting for a scrum five despite being two points behind.
The visitors gave away two successive penalties at the set piece, before referee Jones lost his patience and awarded a penalty try to Newport.
Swansea were awarded a penalty at a scrum and Phillips found touch just inside the Black and Ambers’ 22. Roberts took the lineout and Dodd made a half break, but the visitors were driven backwards and Newport claimed a much needed penalty.
Reed turned down a kickable penalty to chip into the corner, and although a resolute Swansea defence forced the Black and Ambers backwards, before the ball was swept out wide for Foster-Smith to squeeze over at the corner. Reed converted.
Roberts took a lineout on half way as the Whites went in search for a couple of bonus points, and they were awarded a penalty after the Newport defence crept offside.
Phillips chipped up to within 10 metres of the line and Roberts took the lineout, only for the home side to steal possession in the maul. Frewen had a chance to prevent Phillips’ kick from reaching touch but he fluffed his lines.
Instead, Powell took the lineout, but was penalised for obstruction, with Reed clearing with a penalty touch finder. The visitors were awarded a free kick, which Nagy took quickly and Joe Thomas was found on the crash ball.
Another penalty followed in the last play of the game, which Phillips chipped deep into the corner. Roberts took the lineout and a powerful maul saw Cox power over for a try, which also resulted in a couple of well-deserved bonus points for the visitors.
Full-time:- Newport 33-28 Swansea
Newport:
Tries:- Wade Langley (14), Luke Crane (24), Will Reed (26), Penalty Try (71), Chay Foster-Smith (80)
Cons:- Will Reed (25, 27, 80+1)
Yellow cards:- Josh Skinner (39)
Swansea:
Tries:- Geraint Powell (29), Lewis Edwards (42), Max Nagy (49), Jamie Cox (80+10)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (30, 43, 50, 80+11)
Yellow cards:- Ben Roberts (39)
Match facts:
Venue:- Spytty Stadium, Newport
Weather:- Sunny, 7C
Referee:- Rhys Jones
Man of the match:- David Richards
Attendance:- 800
Newport team:
15 Carwyn Penny (rep: Jac Lloyd 50)
14 Chay Foster-Smith
13 David Richards
12 Harri Ackerman (rep: Ioan Davies 50)
11 Elliot Frewen
10 Will Reed
9 Luke Crane (rep: Logan Franklin (80+1)
1 Tom Workman (rep: Harry Fry 47)
2 Wade Langley (rep: Tyler Olding 50)
3 Nathan Evans (rep: Garin Harris 50)
4 Joe Peard (rep: Scott Davies 41)
5 Barny Langton-Cryer
6 Josh Skinner
7 Kyle Tayler
8 Ben Roach ©
Replacements:
16 Tyler Olding
17 Harry Fry
18 Garin Harris
19 Lewis David
20 Scott Davies
21 Logan Franklin
22 Ioan Davies
23 Jac Lloyd
Swansea team:
15 Max Nagy
14 Harri Houston (rep: Lewis Edwards 15)
13 Callum Dodd (rep: Harri Williams 22-41)
12 Joe Thomas
11 Ieuan Cornelius
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett 66)
1 Cameron Jones (rep: Daf Davies 66)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Llew Phillips-Taylor 66-80+1)
3 Ellis Fackrell (rep: Ed Thompson 60)
4 Chris Thompson (rep: Sam Pailor 71)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Geraint Powell
7 Owen Thomas ©
8 Joe Greaves
Replacements:
16 Llew Phillips-Taylor
17 Daf Davies
18 Ed Thompson
19 Sam Pailor
20 Gethin Howell
21 Iwan Temblett
22 Harri Williams
23 Lewis Edwards