NEWPORT RFC showed their all-court game when making it a perfect seven Premiership wins on the spin at Merthyr on Thursday evening.

The Black and Ambers won 31-15 at the Wern to close the gap on leaders Llandovery to 10 points with a game in hand.

Ty Morris men have developed a reputation for being daring with ball in hand in recent seasons yet it was the driving lineout that did the damage in Merthyr.

Hooker Henry Palmer went over three times before scores for centres Chay Foster-Smith and Jonathan Morris.

Merthyr showed spirit to score two tries themselves through Liam Wiggins and Callum Bradbury, although the Ironmen were also lucky to finish with 15 men after Craig Locke was only shown yellow for smashing Josh Skinner high in a dangerous clear-out.

Newport now sit back and watch the Saturday results after another job well done with Palmer named as man of the match by S4C.

"We do like to put some width on the ball but we have shown that we can truck it up and get results as well,” said the hooker, who is in his eight season for the Black and Ambers.

Newport led 12-8 at the break thanks to Palmer's first two scores and he made it three soon after the restart.

Merthyr were tough to shake off - and it took a sensational Lloyd Lewis covering tackle to prevent them from taking the lead - but Foster-Smith just stretched out to reach the line to seal the spoils and a bonus point approaching the hour.

Stalwart Morris then added a final score as Newport closed the gap on Llandovery.

The leaders should restore their advantage when they travel to bottom club Neath but the pair are scrapping it out for top spot and the Black and Ambers have taken a maximum 35 points from their last seven.

"Every game is tough in this league but we back ourselves with the way that we are playing at the moment,” said captain Ben Roach.

"We are fronting up as forwards and getting across that gain line but we have some X-factor in the backs as well."

Newport were agonisingly close to doing the double in the Covid-shortened 2021/22 then were beaten in the Premiership Cup final and play-offs semi-finals by Cardiff last season.

"We have been close in the last two years so it's the next step for us," said Roach. "It would be huge leading into our 150th year."

Newport next travel to face Pontypridd on Thursday, February 29.

New Ebbw Vale signing Reece Dunn is poised for his debut at Bridgend tomorrow afternoon.

The 23-year-old wing/full-back has signed from Gloucester, who he played for three times in the Premiership Cup in September.

Dunn, who made his Cherry and Whites debut at the age of 17, will add to the back three options while Dragons academy prospect Harry Rees-Weldon is on Six Nations duty with Wales Under-20s.

He is set to be on the bench at the Brewery Field as Ebbw aim to keep the heat on Newport for second spot and home advantage in the play-offs.

The Steelmen hunt a double over Bridgend after they edged to a 18-16 victory at Eugene Cross Park thanks to a late penalty try in October.

Pontypool realistically need to beat Cardiff this afternoon to stay in the mix for the play-offs.

Leighton Jones’ men won at the Arms Park earlier this season and will eat into the 12-point gap to the fourth-placed Blue and Blacks with victory, plus Pooler have a game in hand.

Lock Ashley Sweet makes his 50th appearance for the club while Marc Thomas starts for the first time at loosehead.

Premiership: Aberavon v RGC, Bridgend v Ebbw Vale, Neath v Llandovery, Pontypool v Cardiff, Swansea v Carmarthen Quins.

Championship East: Beddau v St Peters, Cardiff Met v Bargoed, Cross Keys v Rumney, Newbridge v Bedwas, Treorchy v Glamorgan W, Ystrad Rhondda v Penallta.