In an incredibly even contest at the Cardiff Arms Park, Newport grabbed the Super Rygbi Cup against reigning champions Llandovery.
A driving maul try scored by replacement hooker Wade Langley proved to be the winner with barely seconds remaining in an enthralling game which saw seven tries in total.
Drovers had looked good to retain their title after a brace from winger Llien Morgan, a try from Harry Doel and 10 points off the boot of fly-half Ioan Hughes.
However, it was Newport who would take the first silverware of the season following tries for Morgan Williams, Henry Palmer, Josh Skinner and Tayler, with Dragons fly-half Jac Lloyd perfect off the tee with eight points.
It was Drovers who took the lead early on, winning a penalty with semi-final matchwinner Hughes making no mistake.
Newport responded well however and a lovely backs move put Carwyn Penny in space with his grubber kick bouncing perfectly into the arms of winger Williams who showed good strength to score.
Dragons’ Lloyd kicked the extras but Llandovery hit right back, going close down the right touchline before the ball was spread left and a perfect pass found Morgan free in the corner with Hughes again successful off the boot.
Llandovery extended their lead as the clock ticked past 20 minutes as a lovely chip from scrum-half Lee Rees landed in the 22 an the ball was offloaded to wing Doel who scored in the corner.
Following the conversion, Drovers held a 17-7 lead but a penalty in midfield gave the Black and Ambers field position and after several phases Palmer buried over from short range, with Lloyd making it a three-point game with the conversion.
Newport continued to push for a breakthrough until half-time but the Drovers stood firm and held a 17-14 lead at the interval.
The second half began in the same vein as the first ended, with Newport on the front foot, putting Llandovery under pressure with hooker Palmer close to a second within minutes of the restart.
The breakthrough finally came as the Drovers were struggling to contain the Black and Ambers and Harrison James’ fizzed pass to Skinner saw the lock canter over to score. Lloyd added the extras and Newport led 21-17.
Repeated Newport infringements then gifted Llandovery field position and, with fewer than 20 minutes remaining, swift hands eventually found Morgan out wide to score his second.
Hughes’ conversion drifted wide, meaning Drovers held a tight one-point lead into the final quarter of an hour.
More Newport ill-discipline gave Hughes an opportunity off the tee and he was pinpoint with his penalty to extend Drovers’ lead to four inside the final 10 minutes.
With the final throws of the game a break from flanker Kyle Tayler set up a penalty for Newport and Lloyd’s kick to the corner left the Black and Ambers just five metres out. Under a sea of bodies, it was Langley who grabbed what would prove to be the winning score.
Newport: Carwyn Penny; Oli Andrew, Harri Ackerman, Harrison James, Morgan Williams; Jac Lloyd, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Devine, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Callum Bradbury, Hunter Ward, Kyle Tayler, Ben Roach (c).
Replacements: Wade Langley, Harry Fry, Ollie Drake, Ioan Rhys Davies, Josh Reid, Tiehi Chatham, Lucus Welch, Tom Hoppe.
Llandovery: Kian Abraham; Harri Doel, Corey Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Llien Morgan; Ioan Hughes, Lee Rees (c); Jamie Hughes, Cam Lewis, Berian Watkins, Griff Evans, Joe Powell, Osian Davies, Stuart Worrall, Evan Sheldon.
Replacements: Harry Thomas, Tom Phillips, Gabe Hawley, Harry Holden, Tiaan Sparrow, Adam Warren, Jack Maynard, George Macdonald.
