NEWPORT'S hopes of a league and cup double disappeared at Pandy Park yesterday, when Cross Keys inflicted only the second defeat of the season on them after a pulsating Konica Minolta last-32 battle.

Some people claim regional rugby is all that matters now, but the nonsense of that has been shown regularly this season.

The standard in the Premier Division is high and improving, attendances are up as people enjoy watching the youngsters coming through, and without the dominating sides of old, the cup is a far more interesting spectacle.

Over 2,000 people will testify to this, having watched a terrific match which was not settled until the very last second.

The scoreline may read 6-3, but it does not reflect the fact that as well as a fully committed, highly charged physical confrontation, both sides produced some superb running which failed to produce tries only because the defences were impossible to breach.

Cross Keys deserved their success. They showed just that little bit more passion in their play and always held a slight edge territorially.

In a first half of fierce hits and numerous spilt balls, it took Newport 20 minutes to enter the home 22.

Full back Darren Miles had given Keys a 14th-minute lead with a 23m penalty after Newport's centres had been caught offside.

The closest Newport went to a reply was when outside-half Daniel Griffiths made his only clean break of the match but was held just short.

Keys should have added to their lead after 45 minutes, when their former Newport pivot Scott Mitchell burst through midfield and moved the ball wide to provide a two on one inside Newport's 22.

But instead of straightening up, drawing Newport full back Richard Davies and sending right-wing Mark McKee across, Miles cut inside and was swallowed.

He added a second penalty eight minutes later, however, but then missed another before Newport squandered a rare opportunity.

Replacement full back Sione Tuipulotu caught the ball inside his own half and charged through tackles to send on to prop Rhys Thomas.

A pass outside would have sent 21-try wing Craig Richards away, but Thomas held on and charged into the opposition, and that chance, too, was lost.

After Keys had bravely held a driving maul on the line, Griffiths missed with a fine penalty chance to equalise, though Newport touch-judge Steve Jones, the former Keys coach, put up his flag.

It looked all over, but in the dying seconds Newport thrust down the right and then switched left inside the Keys 22, and replacement wing Chris Thomas escaped a tackle and hared for the line.

A try seemed certain, but out of nowhere Keys centre Rhodri Williams, helped by McKee, tackled Thomas into touch a foot short, and the final whistle went to signal the end of a superb cup tie.

All involved deserve credit, as they were virtually out on their feet at the end, having given their all, but in a terrific Keys back row former Newport flanker Ben Watkins, son of former Black and Amber second row Jeff, stood out for me, while prop Ian Evans celebrated recently becoming a father with another top display.

Cross Keys: D Miles, M McKee, G Chapman, R Williams, D Price (L Humphries 12min, D Dark 46min), S Mitchell, J Ireland (T Walsh 75min), I Evans, A Brown, D Evans (D Crimmins 55min), P Watkins (M Curtis 40min) D Hallmen (J Sulway 70min), B Watkins, T Morris, W Thomas. Scorers: penalties: Miles (2). Newport: R Davies (S Tuipulotu 52min), C Richards, R Payne (C Thomas 52min), S Williams, R Shorney, D Griffiths, L Lane, D Pattison, G Robinson (J Evans 52min), R Thomas (S Cronk 78min), S Martin (C Billen 61min), M Veater, S Waldron, G Gravell, R Jones. Scorer: penalty: Griffiths.