CHAMPIONS Newport made amends for a shock Premier Division defeat at the Bridge Field last season with this win last night, but were again given a terrific battle.

Despite being forced to defend for long periods, Bedwas did so like demons and on the rare occasions they had the ball looked threatening on the counter.

Newport should have sewn the game up in the opening thirty minutes which they dominated with some pacy running and good support work, but they did not vary play enough and too often lost possession in good positions.

Coach David Rees admitted: "We made too many mistakes again. We didn't look after the ball and because it went well at Caerphilly on Saturday, we used the driving lineout too much.

"We have a good lineout, a good scrum and skilful players but we need to be more patient.

"But it's three wins out of three and Bedwas is a hard place to win as Newport found last season."

Joint Bedwas coach Steve Law commented: "I was very happy with the players' attitude and performance, but Newport did us at the lineout.

"The game is based around the set piece and that's where we struggled. Other than that, I didn't think there was anything between the sides."

Newport dominated the lineout both on their own and Bedwas' put-in through Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris, his replacement Neil Edwards and the outstanding Darren Davies.

The latter was a bundle of energy against a side he formerly played for while flanker Sam Waldron also did a terrific amount of work.

Back row pair Deri Mattravers and Steve Gardner worked tirelessly for Bedwas, but despite the endeavour of both sides, it was again a Premier game full of errors, with even a couple of simple penalty chances on either side missed.

Newport went ahead after 18 minutes when outside half Ricky Williams' inside pass on the Bedwas 22 was taken by wing Gareth Chapman who crossed for his third try of the season.

Amazingly Bedwas were ahead at the interval when they scored from their one really concerted move of the game. Number eight Mattravers made ground and set up a ruck and when the ball was moved left, centre John Welch broke through in midfield and sent left wing Nathan Hill over for a try full back Andrew James converted.

Newport clinched victory five minutes into the second half when full back Andrew McLaughlan caught a loose clearance kick inside his own half and linked with Chapman before breaking through to the 22 and combining with his forwards to put Davies over for a try Williams converted.

Bedwas: A James, S Sankala, J Welch, J Lynch (A Harrison 41min), N Hill, R Sweeney, S Jones, G Leonard (J Tilley 51min), K Jama (M Pettit 51min), J Salter, R Edwards, A Evans (L Howells 60min), S Gardner, P Wheeler, D Mattravers. Scorers: try: N Hill; conversion: A James.

Newport: A McLaughlan, G Chapman, R Payne, S Ireland, W Kershaw-Naylor (C Thomas 53min), R Williams, T Walsh (B Shelbourne 53min), I Evans (D Pattison 61min), K Crawford, G Robinson (G Mason 51min), D Davies, L Charteris (N Edwards 57min), M Veater (P Williams 30min), S Waldron, R Jones. Scorers: tries: G Chapman, D Davies; conversion: R Williams