The Black and Ambers will travel to Church Bank to face Llandovery’s double chase (2:40pm kick-off) after beating the Steelmen 48-13.
Newport scored three tries in each half with center Joe Westwood, wing Elliot Frewen and scrum-half Che Hope giving them a 27-6 lead at the break.
The Black and Ambers got the job done with a double from Westwood for his hat-trick early in the second half and then, after a consolation score from Owen Conquer, had the last laugh through winger Lloyd Lewis.
“I was really happy with the performance,” said Morris, whose side have now won 15 games in a row since losing to Llandovery at the end of November.
“There was a lot of preparation before the game and some of the comments that they beat us to our blunder really fueled us.
“Ebbw Vale had sent us back to Spytty three times, but that only energized us and we knew that if we focused on ourselves and were ruthless and clinical, we would get the job done.
“It’s down to the players, they did it and that period before half-time gave us control and then we worked really hard until the hour mark and were able to rest a few players.”
CONTROL: Scrumhalf Che Hope judged when to up the tempo for Newport (Image: Huw Evans Agency)
Newport’s total of 122 tries in 24 matches (averaging five per match) was the highest in the regular season, seven ahead of the Drovers.
Yet it was the maturity and poise of the Black and Ambers’ performance that excited Morris against the Steelmen.
“We’ve broken the deadlock before by overplaying and we didn’t do that against Ebbw Vale – even with a 20-point lead we were sending the ball into the corner and making them play from the 22,” he said. declared.
“I then told the group that the management and control of the game was the best I have seen from them.
“That’s what fueled us, we took the lead and made them play deep. We were able to turn the screws on them this time.
The Black and Ambers are now trying to make it 16 straight wins to claim the Premiership title for the first time since 2004.
Newport were edged out by Cardiff in the Covid-shortened 2021/22 season, which was a straight league format, and lost the Blue and Blacks in the semi-finals last season.
They now face a Drovers side who won the Premiership Cup in April and are aiming to repeat last year’s final triumph.
This is a clash between two teams who have set the standards in the 2023/24 season with Llandovery, who won 22 games to Newport’s 21, sneaking up by a point to ensure the venue or Church Bank rather than Rodney Parade.
“It’s thanks to Llandovery that they finished top of the league and are a quality team,” Morris said. “It will be a very good battle and I think the fans will enjoy it.”
Luckily for Newport, the Dragons are in action on Friday night, meaning flyhalf Matt O’Brien will be able to play the following day after coaching at Rodney Parade against the Stormers.
Hope, Westwood and lock Barny Langton-Cryer were on the Dragons bench last time out against Connacht, but should be able to feature at Church Bank.
The Dragons have three options at scrum-half: Rhodri Williams, Dane Blacker and Hope’s young mate Morgan Lloyd.
The return to form of Jared Rosser and the arrival of South African Chris Hollis should free up Westwood, who was covering the midfield and the back three.
Langton-Cryer, who signed for Newport from Cardiff Met last summer before attracting the attention of the Dragons, was recalled to the bench late against Connacht due to a minor injury to Harri Keddie.
