A week on from marking his first game after more than a year out with a try in the Black & Ambers’ league win at Aberavon, Hewitt made it four tries in two games to give Dragons’ head coach Filo Tiatia a nudge.
And a second consecutive maximum in the cup means Ty Morris’ side sit top of Pool B on 12 points from two games. The Quins led twice in the first half through tries from Ifan Davies and then Gabe McDonald, converted by the former.
But, trailing 12-5 with two minutes of the first half remaining, Newport scored three times in quick succession through Hewitt – his second – back rower Lewis David and outside half Jac Lloyd to lead 26-12 by the break with Lloyd adding three conversions.
Hewitt strolled in for this third try after the break, with centre David Richards and skipper Ben Roach also getting in on the act. Matt O’Brien added the extras to all three.
For the Quins, Iestyn Wood’s second half score, converted by Davies, and a penalty try ensured they would not leave empty handed but a third defeat from three in the pool means their hopes of reaching the final are over.
Ebbw Vale have 10 points after they made it two wins out of two with an 18-13 triumph in their Gwent derby at Pontypool. Kieran Meek kicked Pontypool into a seventh minute lead, but the first try of the match went Ebbw’s way with scrum-half Gruff Tough bursting over following a lineout break with Evan Lloyd adding the extras.
A second Meek penalty pulled the hosts back to within a point at the break. Openside flanker Kobi Rees scored a second Ebbw try two minutes after the re-start, this time unconverted, to put them back in front.
But Pooler responded and retook the lead 13-12 on 66 minutes when Morgan Allen scored a try which was converted by Meek. Pooler had been victorious when two sides met at Pontypool Park just before Christmas in the league, but this time Ebbw ensured it was they who claimed the bragging rights courtesy of two late penalties from Lloyd.
“We owed them one in Pontypool really; they’ve done us twice the last two down there – so it was nice to get the win. It was tough conditions; the pitch was very slippy and sticky, but we got there in the end,” said Ebbw team manager Dan Haymond.
“We felt like we were in control in the first half, but we let ourselves down a bit with our discipline in the second half and playing in the wrong areas and just putting ourselves under pressure.
“Evan missed a shot in front of the posts to put us back into the lead when he slipped as he was kicking the ball and it went wide – so it was a bit of squeaky bum time then at the end. But the boys did well, they dug in and Evan got the points in the end to get us over the line.”
The Gwent trio are back in action this week in rearranged league games in SRC. Ebbw welcome Newport to Eugene Cross Park on Thursday evening when, along with derby bragging rights and league points, the Steelmen will once again put the SRC Challenger Shield on the line.
A bonus point win for Ebbw will see them go from third to first in the table. Newport, in fourth, are currently six points behind leaders Cardiff.
Despite currently sitting pretty in the league, there will be no cup final for Cardiff this season after they lost 27-19 at Bridgend in Pool A.
Full-back Edd Howley was at the double against his former side, as well as kicking two conversions and a penalty, to inspire the Ravens to what was also their first home win over Cardiff since 2017.
Left wing Macauley Rowley and outside centre Ryan Wilkins were also among the home side’s scorers. Outside half Lloyd Lucas scored on his first start for Cardiff with Craig Hudd, converted by Lucas, and a penalty try their other scorers.
