Owen Broad’s late try had given home supporters hope of an
unlikely win, but Hancock’s conversion attempt was way off, and after broad
went close to a second try, Hancock’s drop goal attempt was wide by a whisker.
What it meant to the Aberavon players was evident in their
reaction to the kick sailing wide and the whistle subsequently blowing, and they deserved
the victory after edging an engaging and full-blooded encounter.
They started the brighter, and early pressure resulted in a
penalty being awarded. Jamie Davies dragged it wide, but he didn’t have long to
try again.
From a line-out in Newport’s 22, the forwards drove all the way
through the home defence as if it was built of paper, and Gareth Harvey fell
over the try-line on seven minutes. But Davies again missed his kick.
To their credit, Newport responded well to the early setback
and Hancock kicked his side in to the lead with penalties after 12 and 23
minutes.
Aberavon had been pressuring their hosts at every
opportunity early on, and it was visibly unsettling the Black and Ambers. Kicks
out of hand weren’t hitting targets, while handling errors also betrayed their
inner nerves.
The visitors were also willing to run at Newport at every
opportunity and were trying to make things happen, but as the half progressed,
the hosts got more in to the game.
Both sides had chances to add scores before the break.
First, a knock-on ruined a flowing Newport move involving Alan Awcock, Elliot
Frewen and the inspirational Darren Waters, before the latter spotted a gap and
broke through the Wizards’ line, dodging a few tackles before offloading to Ross
Coombs, who was eventually halted and the move broke down.
Then, on the stroke of half-time, an Aberavon line-out in
the Newport 22 resulted in another forwards drive, but as the backs then tried
to spread the play, Hancock intercepted a pass to Ben Thomas and Newport were
off the hook.
The second period started disastrously for Aberavon as, with
Newport now on the front foot, the Wizards lost captain Sam Williams to injury.
But with Newport failing to add to their total, the visitors
slowly turned the game around again and a sustained period of pressure resulted
in a second try on 63 minutes. Thomas broke the Newport line and after he was
upended the ball was eventually moved out wide where Paul Bamsey fed Richard
Carter to run in at the corner. Davies this time added the extras.
The game then petered in to a bit of a slog in the middle of
the park, but in to the final 12 minutes it exploded in to life again.
Broad produced a moment of magic, bursting down the line and
then kicking through to chase. He beat the cover and went over under pressure,
but referee Simon Rees adjudged he had knocked it on and no try was given.
That signalled a bad tempered ending. Wizards sub Craig
Evans was sin binned for killing the ball in his own 22, and once the melees
had been cleared play restarted. Ten-odd minutes of sustained pressure finally
told when Awcock made use of Broad on the overlap. He slid over in the corner,
but Hancock missed the conversion to leave the scores at 11-12.
There was still time for Broad to come within inches of
scoring his second try, and when Newport recycled the ball to their left,
Hancock tried his own Johnny Wilkinson circa 2003 moment. Yet the ball was
agonisingly just wide of the left-hand post and Rees brought proceedings to a
close as the Wizards leapt for joy.
It means they move 10 points ahead of bottom side Swansea,
although they have now played a game more, while Newport’s losing bonus point
means they climb above fierce rivals Cardiff in to seventh.
Final score: Newport
11-12 Aberavon
Newport:
Tries: Owen Broad Penalties: Tom Hancock (2)
Aberavon:
Tries: Gareth Harvey, Richard Carter Conversions: Jamie Davies
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