The Black and Ambers came into the game as strong favourites after their brilliant 30-28 win at Merthyr but fell to a surprisingly heavy defeat at the hands of the Drovers, writes Tom Hughes.

Llandovery had lost to another Gwent side in Cross Keys 26-18 the previous week - their third consecutive defeat away from home – but a return to Church Bank brought them a far happier result.

They ran in six tries with Newport’s only answer a late second half try from replacement Geraint Watkin.

Newport disappointingly failed to re-find the form they showed against Merthyr in the face of a very well-balanced, vibrant Llandovery side that belied its bottom half league position.

Coach Craig Warlow gave a frank assessment of the performance.

“Llandovery did the basics better, edged the contact area and we have no complaints against a very good and well coached side.”

“We were nowhere near the form at Merthyr but that was because the Drovers were more accurate and precise in all they did. We live to fight another day.”

In damp conditions fly half Haydn Simons gave Newport the lead with a penalty after ten minutes before opposite number Jack Maynard tied the scores with a penalty.

Despite the windy conditions, there was plenty of positive intent on both sides but defences were alert and committed.

Competition for the loose ball was intense with flankers Kyle Tayler and Llandovery’s Lewis Ellis-Jones shining before the Drovers eventually went ahead ten minutes from half time.

After a Maynard up and under had eluded the Newport defence, ex-Carmarthen Quins full back Gavin Thomas swept up the ball to race in wide out.

Things got worse for Newport soon after when Scarlets’ pocket dynamo of a hooker Dafydd Hughes galloped in after an inside pass from diminutive scrum half Lee Rees.

With Maynard’s conversion the Black and Ambers found themselves 15-3 astray at the break and facing an uphill attack in the face of a strong second half wind.

The game went right away from them just after the restart when Scarlets wing Morgan Williams used his speed to chase a Maynard kick and get Llandovery’s third try, converted by Maynard.

The third Scarlet playing in Llandovery colours - centre Corey Baldwin - then finished off a slick midfield move to slip through and clinch the home attacking bonus point, Maynard adding the conversion.

A stunned Newport soon conceded a penalty try at a scrum and then a converted interception try to wing Aaron Warren to go 43-3 down against an increasingly confident opposition.

To their credit, the Black and Ambers enjoyed plenty of possession late on for busy replacement Geraint Watkin to get a consolation try, another replacement Matt O’Brien converting but it was all in all a poor day for the Gwent club.

Llandovery Tries: G Thomas, D Hughes, M Williams, C Baldwin, pen try, A Warren Cons: J Maynard (4) Pen; J Maynard Newport Try: G Watkin Con: M O’Brien Pen: H Simons Llandovery: G Thomas; M Williams, C Baldwin, R Jones, A Warren; J Maynard, L Rees; J Hughes, D Hughes, B Watkins, J Jones, J Powell, L Ellis-Jones, R Brooks (capt), S Miles Replacements: D Thomas, R Guest, D Dellavalle, R Jones, M Jones, S Worrall, K Jones, R Evans Newport: Newport: D Richards; H Lang, C Smith, G O’Driscoll (capt), E Frewen; R James, H Symons; L Smout, H Palmer, G Harris, J Bartlett, D Partridge, J Skinner, K Tayler, C Williams Replacements: M Prosser, J Williams, T Piper, A Mann, J Reid, G Watkins, M O'Brien, A Evans.

Newport star choice: Kyle Tayler