Newport provided plenty of evidence that they are not going to give up their Premier league title easily.

It was the first TV airing for the premiership this season but the monsoon conditions spoilt what could have been a running encounter.

Newport coach David Rees fully expected the game not to go ahead.

"I was amazed that the game started and I though it would be a farce. "But the pitch held out well and the standard of play was a credit to the premiership.

"There was intensity from both teams in terms of defence, recycling and ball retention in shocking conditions.

"We showed great resilience to keep the Quins at bay at the end of the first half and I was happy just be down 3 - 0 at the break."

The Newport pack held most of the aces in the line-outs and loose play, as they were far more physical and had a stronger bench.

Lock and captain Matthew Veater was outstanding and set his stall out from the first whistle with a charging 30-metre run.

The rest followed and aided by fellow lock Neil Edwards, they stole three Quins line-outs in the opening exchanges.

Scrum half James Ireland was lively and had a real tussle with man-of-the-match Quins scrum half Wayne Evans.

Despite the strong running of Tongan wing Aisea Havili from Llanelli Scarlets, the Newport defence stood strong as the Quins battled for the vital score in the second half.

The home side having survived a torrid opening scored the only points of the first half on 17 minutes.

Fly-half Aled Thomas kicked a penalty from 35 metres out against the run of play. Playing with the wind in the second half fly-half Daniel Griffiths hoisted a huge kick.

The ball failed to be collected and with a fly-kick centre Rhys Shorney was on the spot to claim the only try of the game after 42 minutes.

Despite strenuous efforts to get a vital try the killer blow for the Quins came three minutes from time as the large Newport contingent held their breath as fly-half Daniel Griffiths stepped up to slot over from 20 metres out.

"The most pleasing aspect of our game was that we fronted up to a side that created pressure we have not come across this season.

We were physical and showed that we have a new dimension to our game when we cannot play an open and expansive game," concluded coach Rees.

Carmarthen Quins: C. Evans (G. King 45); A. Rees, D. Simpson (J. Davies 75), E. Jones, A. Havili; Aled Thomas, W. Evans (R. Richards 63); B. Grace (capt- Richard D Davies 63)), A. Gravelle (D. Smith), M. O'Kelly, P. Arnold (Euros Ll Evans 63), G. Rees, Andrew Thomas, S. Jenkins (C. Jones 57), G. Williams.

Newport: R. Williams; G. Chapman, R. Shorney, R. Payne, C. Thomas; D. Griffiths, J. Ireland (B. Shelbourne 70); D. Pattison, K. Crawford 9A. Brown 70), G. Robinson (I. Evans 68), M. Veater (capt - D. Davies 58), N. Edwards (S. Cronk 68), N. Kelly (P. Williams 68), R. Jones, S. Waldron. Referee: Huw F Lewis (Pontypridd)