NEWPORT RFC were condemned to their first defeat of the Super Rygbi Cymru campaign by Llandovery, although they did take a pair of bonus points from their 30-28 loss at Spytty Park.

The Drovers, who edged out the Black and Ambers in the Premiership final, deservedly took the spoils to get their season up and running after an indifferent start.

They had the better of the first half to lead 17-7 and then won key periods to keep their noses in front, crossing three times through scrum-half Lee Rees, prop Jamie Hughes and wing Toby Baldwin.

Newport had their chances but made too many mistakes and in the end were grateful for a try with the clock in the red by replacement centre Barney Nightingale.

After earlier scores by wing Lloyd Lewis, number eight Ben Roach and centre Chay Foster-Smith, that earned both four-try and losing bonuses.

Ty Morris men had won three from three but suffered their first loss since the silverware was on the line at Church Bank.

The quality of this encounter, as is to be expected at this stage of the season, didn’t match that cracker but both sides showed flashes of what will make them contenders for the first SRC crown.

“It was really pleasing to get those two points in the end but in all honesty our inaccuracy killed us,” said captain Roach to S4C.

“We were in areas to get some points and finish things off but couldn’t keep ball in hand and let it slip to give easy exits.

“That’s on us and we are not a million miles away, it’s just those little inaccuracies. The spirit and the camaraderie led to us getting back into it and we ended only two points away, that’s credit to the boys and their character.

“There were lots of positives and we played some really good rugby but it was just a shame not to come away with the win.”

BREAK: Newport scrum-half Dafydd Buckland sprints through against LlandoveryBREAK: Newport scrum-half Dafydd Buckland sprints through against Llandovery (Image: Jeff Wright)

The Drovers made a rapid start and former Dragons centre Adam Warren, who would go on to be named man of the match, made a line break that was finished off by stalwart scrum-half Rees in the fifth minute.

The visitors moved 10 points in front but then Newport struck back in the 17th minute with a super solo score by speedster Lewis, his first of the campaign.

The Black and Ambers had lock Joe Peard sin-binned for a scuffle as the penalties racked up and then front rower Jamie Hughes barged over, with the Drovers then defending strongly for a 17-7 lead at the break.

They extended that advantage early in the second half through the boot of Ioan Hughes but Newport then had a purple patch.

Roach crashed over to make it 20-14 and then fly-half Matt O’Brien was held up over the line and wing Elliot Frewen couldn’t gather a clever grubber to the left wing by Carwyn Penny.

However, Newport were hit by a sucker punch when wing Toby Baldwin went over from a cross-kick and they stretched three scores clear when Hughes slotted a penalty for 30-14 with quarter of an hour to go.

To Newport’s credit they kept plugging away and Foster-Smith crashed over from a quick O’Brien tap and then Nightingale finished strongly with the clock in the red to ensure it wasn’t a pointless evening.