Black and Ambers’ late one

Feb 17 2008 by Staff Reporter, Wales On Sunday

Newport 14-21 Bedwas

NEWPORT edged a passionate encounter at Bedwas but it could have been so different had the hosts been more accurate with the boot.

Fly-half Stuart Thomas saw two penalties miss in the closing stages that would have seen them take the lead, but in the end it was the Black and Ambers who got the late score, replacement wing Nathan Williams grabbing a try in injury time to give the scoreline a false look.

It had been a close encounter throughout with neither side ever more than a converted try away, though Newport should have been ahead more comfortably.

Craig Hill scored the first try on 15 minutes and Darren Griffiths booted a conversion and two penalties, but Bedwas were always in contention.

Thomas kicked three penalties and it seemed they might be in the quarter-finals when Matthew Pizey crossed on 70 minutes.

But Griffiths edged Newport back in front with a dropped goal and they withstood the Bedwas charge to go through.

Bedwas: Try – M Pizey; pens – S Thomas (3).

Newport: Tries – C Hill, N Williams; con – B Griffiths; pens – B Griffiths (2); drop goal – B Griffiths.