Andrew is Quick for Newport RFC in vital win (From Western Telegraph)

Andrew is Quick for Newport RFC in vital win

5:20am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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Newport were the better-balanced side and won a very entertaining game at Church Bank by five tries to two, writes Huw S Thomas.

It gave the Black and Ambers a maximum haul of points and takes them up into third position in the Premiership table.

Coach Sven Cronk was delighted with the win.

"It has always been a difficult place for Gwent clubs.

"So to come away with five points gives us the momentum we are looking for in what will be a tight battle to keep in the top four and guarantee a British and Irish Cup place next year."

Well served by scrum-half Andrew Quick, Newport shrugged off the disappointment of conceding a try to scrum-half Gareth James after just 30 seconds by hitting the Drovers with two tries in five minutes.

Full-back Gareth Wyatt scored the first and then ran hard and straight to put wing Ryan Owen in for the second.

That Llandovery kept in touch was down to their ex-Wales A fly-half Cerith Rees, who put over four penalties.

Fly-half Dan Griffiths added a penalty to an earlier conversion before going off injured, but his replacement, Chris Wannell, kicked one of his own to have Newport 18-17 in the lead at half-time.

A very smart try by nippy centre Adam Hughes stretched the lead, only for Llandovery to reply with a corner effort from hard-working lock Rhydian Gierat.

Yellow cards for Llandovery’s replacement No 8 Matthew Harbut and away lock Dafydd Rosser all added to the excitement, but Newport upped a gear going into the last 15 minutes.

Intelligent probing from Quick, swift distribution from Wannell and sharp running from centre Scott Williams softened up the Drovers.

Tries from wing Mike Poole and skipper Andrew Coombs sandwiched in a fifth home penalty from Rees.

Llandovery: M Jacobs; D Rogers, M Brayley, R Williams, S Soul; C Rees (H Thomas 78), G James; P Edwards (O Evans 53), A Yelland (capt) (G George 75), C Cross (P Edwards 62), R Gierat (S Jones 64), G Vaughan , N Aiono, D Fitzgerald (M Harbut 53), L Phillips.

Tries: G James, R Gierat; con: C Rees; pens: C Rees (5).

Newport: G Wyatt; M Poole, A Hughes, S Williams, R Owen (P Leach 57); D Griffiths (C Wannell 23), A Quick; D Pattison, A Brown, D Way, D Rosser, S Waldron, D McShane, A Coombs (capt), P Williams.

Tries: G Wyatt, R Owen, A Hughes, M Poole, A Coombs; cons: D Griffiths, C Wannell (2); pen: D Griffiths, C Wannell.

Referee: Phil Fear (Fleur de Lys).

Attendance: 300.

Man of the match; Andrew Quick (Newport).