Newport win Super Rygbi Cymru after beating Ebbw Vale 27-18
The Black and Ambers became the first team to beat the Steelmen at Eugene Cross Park in 2024/25 to win the title for the first time since 2004.
Tries by scrum-half Dafydd Buckland, impressive fly-half Jac Lloyd and full-back Carwyn Penny earned the spoils, and they were good value for it against a resilient, proud and determined Ebbw who kept fighting until the final whistle.
It was a fitting end to their anniversary year with the added sentiment of paying tribute to Brian Jones, 'Mr Newport', who died last month.
Added to the script, Black and Ambers hall of famers Elliot Frewen and Rhys Jenkins pulled on the famous jersey for the last time in this final.
It was Newport's day after they suffered Premiership final anguish 12 months earlier and Ebbw Vale will hope to follow their lead in 2026.
The Steelmen will be hurting after coming up short in a terrific campaign that featured 13 wins on home soil.
Newport's title triumph was a long time in the making and featured two near misses, so Jason Strange will urge Ebbw to just keep on building.
PACKED: The crowd at Eugene Cross Park (Image: Gareth Everett)
Both sides made a nervy start with Ebbw keen to make the most of the wind at their backs – at least it was initially on a sunny but blustery afternoon – as they attacked the clubhouse end.
The Steelmen were carrying hard and got reward for their early pressure when Evan Lloyd knocked over a penalty in the ninth minute.
The hosts tried to extend their lead through their trusty lineout drive but Newport held firm and forced an error from the resulting carries.
They got the reward for that when Jac Lloyd levelled from the tee in the 20th minute and the visitors then built up a head of steam.
Newport had lost flanker Kyle Tayler to an early injury and then Ebbw saw captain and hooker Joe Franchi limp off, a blow that was swiftly followed by the opening try in the 29th minute.
The Black and Ambers did a quick 'one-two' at the front of a lineout in the 22, hammered away and then scrum-half Dafydd Buckland spotted a gap and dotted down.
Lloyd converted but then, after a rapid attack from a quick tap, failed to judge the wind with a penalty and it remained 10-3 as half-time approached.
CHARGE: Ethan Phillips carries hard for Ebbw Vale against Newport (Image: Gareth Everett)
Ebbw's Lloyd got a long but central effort spot-on to make it 10-6 but Newport got a huge score with the final play of the half.
They worked space down the left and David Richards, with two strong carries, got them within inches.
Arguably they made hard work of it – and Ebbw must've been close to winning a penalty after trying to get over the ball – but eventually the fleet-footed Lloyd danced over and converted himself for a 17-6 lead.
Ebbw had turned around a 21-5 deficit against Llandovery in the semis and a huge line break by Ryan Jenkins got them hunting a response five minutes after the restart only for the attack to be ended by a knock on in the 22.
No bother, an almighty scrum earned them another crack and scrum-half Gruff Tough's cross-kick was gathered by Ewan Bowden for a try down the left that made it 17-11, with Evan Lloyd failing with the touchline conversion.
However, the Newport response was immediate with full-back Carwyn Penny gathering a boomed clearance, chipping over the top and then benefiting from a nasty bounce and hesitation to gather, just about stay up and dive over down the right.
Jac Lloyd's conversion was a peach and the visitors had stretched their lead to 24-11 with half an hour to go.
Yet back came Ebbw courtesy of a nightmare moment for wing Iestyn Galton, who tried to force an offload after being too casual in his 22.
The loose ball was snaffled by the hosts and lock Curtis Gregory went over from close range, Evan Lloyd making it a seven-pointer.
It was manic stuff and Newport were able to stretch a score clear on the hour through the boot of Jac Lloyd, 27-18 their lead.
The Black and Ambers thought they had their clincher when a hack ahead led to Jac Lloyd flicking the ball to Galton, who went under the sticks.
However, TMO footage – in play for the final – showed it had gone forward.
That was followed by shanked, ambitious long penalty effort by the Newport fly-half as it remained nip and tuck.
The clock was not Ebbw's friend and the Black and Ambers knew the importance of good discipline to keep the home side out of their 22 as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
However, a scrum penalty and then an offside led to the Steelmen having a shot at a five-metre lineout with 73 gone.
That led to influential lock Josh Skinner seeing yellow after the first attempt was illegally stopped, then ref Ben Breakspear gave another penalty that was sent to the corner.
Newport held up Ebbw over the line and dissent led to a penalty rather than a drop out.
The Steelmen kept coming but this, finally, was to be a black and amber afternoon.
Ebbw scorers: tries – Bowden, Gregory; conversion – E Lloyd; penalties – E Lloyd (2).
Newport scorers: tries – Buckland, J Lloyd, Penny; conversions – J Lloyd (3); penalties – J Lloyd (2).
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU).
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