Twice-winners Newport lacked a central performer after looking the better side early on, and going 8-0 up. "The things we did well for 20 mins - like spreading the ball wide - were then neglected and taking Maesteg on in the contact area was a big mistake" said Newport coach Sven Cronk. "It was always going to be a difficult, and, in the end, Maesteg had a lot of old hands and we didn't. Basically, we turned over too much ball and during the second half there was little continuity, leading to a lack of decent field positions."
A fourth-minute try from wing Rhys Shorney, along with a Daniel Griffiths penalty, looked to have pointed the way ahead for Newport. But once Devereux powered over for a first try in the 20th minute, momentum had already changed, and several try-scoring chances were spurned before Devereux added another just before the break.
Maesteg led 14-8 at the changeover and, having checked a Newport recovery bid, two Stuart Morris penalties sent them clear.The Black and Ambers had already shot their bolt, and near the end lock Paul Jones rounded things off with a try against a former club. Maesteg's only previous semi-final appearance dates back to 1994 when losing 23-7 against Llanelli at the Gnoll.