Big rugby derby for Town tonight

Newtown will look to thwart neighbours Llanidloes’s bid for third spot in the Division Two (North) tonight on the back of a hard earned 16-14 win over Abergele at the weekend.

 

COBRA have slipped past Llanidloes with a pair of victories over the last week but Llanidloes can reclaim their top spot if they win tonight (7pm ko).

 

Meanwhile, the Green Army second string warmed up for Sunday’s Mid Wales Cup final with Aberystwyth with a 16-10 win over Trefyclawdd.

 

Town opened the match in rampant style, Junior Dean again leading the way with a searing break up the middle, only to be stopped on the try line.

 

With Town camped in the Trefy half, the visitors yielded a penalty which Full-back Danny Hill slotted over. Town then extended their lead when wing Tom Yeomans finished in the corner. Hill added the extras and Town were well in command.

 

With half backs Lee Davies and Dylan Green pulling the strings, Town were playing some intelligent rugby, and extended their lead further with another Hill penalty.

 

Town had another couple of half chances through second-row Nathan Owen and No.8 Dean, as well as a disallowed try through Davies, but desperate last ditch defence from the visitors kept the score at 13-0 going into the break.

The second half was a different story. Trefy brought on some useful replacements and the momentum of the game swung. The visitors clawed some points back after Town infringed at the breakdown, and were looking menacing in attack. Town was having to show sheer grit and determination in defence to quell the rising tide of attacks from the invigorated Trefy team. Mid-way through the half, Town forced their way out of defence and gained another kickable penalty which Hill accepted, making the score 16-3. Trefyclawdd hit back, and scored a try of their own under the posts, which converted, made the score a twitchy 16-10 but Newtown held out.

The win virtually secures runners-up spot in the Mid Wales League, an achievement which every player who has represented the seconds can be proud of.

The Mid Wales Cup Final against Aberystwyth Athletic in Llanidloes next Sunday, kicks off at 3:30pm.

Newtown 2nds: N Smith, R Evans, A Owen, N Owen, J Blower, G Jones, S Watkin, J Dean, L Davies, D Green, T Yeomans, M Pratten, D Paige, O Williams, D Hill. Reps: G Kelly, G Roberts, B Lewis, S Owen, A Ellis, S Thomas, S Davies