Right wing Lloyd Lewis bagged himself a hat-trick of tries with left winger Elliot Frewen at the double. Ioan Davies, Che Hope, Josh Skinner and David Richards were the other scorers for the Black & Ambers – who were also awarded a penalty try.
Will Reed slotted over five conversions. This victory for Newport saw them bounce back from a home loss to Llandovery and a disappointing derby defeat at Pontypool.
“We asked for a reaction this week after our poor performance against Pontypool and, credit to the guys, they really stepped up,” said head coach Ty Morris.
“I thought we played well up front and particularly in attack as well. If we’re honest, our attack hasn’t been where we wanted it to be, but against RGC it all seemed to slot into place.
“We were in a good position just after half time where we could make a number of changes – and the guys that came on really injected some urgency and continued where the other guys had left off.”
Morris’ side had their try bonus point in the bag by the break with five first half scores. The hosts scored in what was their first visit into the RGC 22 after six minutes with full-back Davies going over although the try went unconverted.
Frewen was over for their second try five minutes later after incepting and charging through, with Reed converting. Lewis bagged his first – and Newport’s third – try after 21 minutes with Reed again converting.
Sam Earl-Jones replied for the Gogs with a try, which Billy McBryde improved, but that was as good as it got for the visitors, with Lewis scoring again and then scrum-half Hope setting up Frewen for his second try to open up a 29-7 half time lead.
Hope got his name on the scoresheet four minutes after the re-start, with Reed converting, before a penalty try made it 43-7. Newport were not finished there. Skinner ran in their eighth try, converted by Reed, just before the hour before Lewis completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes, unconverted.
Richards scored Newport’s 10th and final try with a minute remaining, converted by Reed. It was a difficult afternoon for the north Walians, who were made to pay for a number of errors by a clinical Newport.
“We knew they would come out hard after two defeats and also knew if they got their tails up, it would be difficult – and it was,” admitted RGC director of rugby Josh Leach.
“It’s a tough one to swallow. At the end of the day, they were better, individually and collectively, and we need to be better”
Newport go to Ebbw Vale on 23 November when SRC resumes after a four-week break. As well as league points and Gwent derby bragging rights, the SRC Challenge Shield – currently held by Ebbw – will also be up for grabs.
RGC will bid to bounce back at home against Swansea.
Scorers: Newport: Tries: L Lewis 3, E Frewen 2, I Davies, C Hope, J Skinner, D Richards, Pen Try; Cons: W Reed 5. RGC: Try: S Earl-Jones; Con: B McBryde
