Monty runs the show again

NEWPORT powered to victory over troubled Swansea with a decisive spell either side of the interval at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

A Swansea club in administration and a side shorn of its Wales squad members probably playing together for the last time with players set to leave should have been comfortable for Newport.

But Swansea showed bags of grit and determination and gave Newport a real fright as they raced into a 17-3 lead.

A massive upset even looked on the cards, but Newport steadied and used the power up front which Swansea coach John Connolly feared to steamroller their way to victory.

Skipper Simon Raiwalui's try - Newport's fifth and final effort - typified the effort as they turned a 17-3 deficit into a matchwinning 35-17 lead.

Jason Strange kicked accurately to provide 18 points from three penalties, three conversions and a long-range dropped goal.

But the star of the show for Newport was again Percy Montgomery. He even had former Wales captain and coach 'Top Cat' .

Clive Rowlands purring from the Press box, working as a BBC Wales summariser.

"I haven't seen anything like that since the days of Dai Watkins," said Rowlands, referring to Montgomery's skills.

Monty could hardly have celebrated his 29th birthday better, scoring two fine tries as well as showing all his ability though hampered by a leg injury which nearly forced him to miss the match.

Yet it didn't shape up the way it finished as Newport struggled to impose themselves. Mistakes abounded, with ball retention a nightmare, line-out ball lost and often an alarming lack of cover.

After Strange kicked a second minute penalty, prop Dan Dorsey thundered over and former Newport winger Matthew Robinson showed his pace by kicking on twice from his own 22, collecting a kind bounce and streaking away for another.

Robinson caused Newport all sorts of problems with his electrifying runs, one of which left three defenders trailing and gave a try to scrum half Sam Cordingley.

Arwel Thomas converted Swansea's two first half tries and kicked a penalty for that 17-3 lead.

Newport finally roused themselves, though their lack of penetration in the threequarter line remained a constant concern.

Montgomery showed the way as he exploited a gap for a try after a burst by Raiwalui and then a dash through the middle by Ofisa Tonu'u and neat handling by Steve Ojomoh and Strange resulted in a try for Jason Jones-Hughes.

Newport took charge after the interval with Strange kicking a penalty and then Tonu'u scoring an amazing try as Cordingley put the ball into the air, the wind took it backwards over Thomas' head and Tonu'u pounced for the try.

A Strange conversion and dropped goal extended the lead, though Ian Gough completely lost it as he was impeded while Gareth Swales raced through and landed punches in every direction.

But Newport steadied again as Strange sent a long-range dropped goal over and Montgomery swept through again after Alex Cadwallader, replacement David Pattison and Jason Forster all handled.

To their credit Swansea didn't throw in the towel and Robinson made Cordingley's try, but Strange kicked his third penalty and Raiwalui took half the Swansea pack with him over the line for Newport's fifth try.

But it was Swansea who had the final word in injury time when Shaun Payne made Forster pay for a reckless drop-out attempt by squeezing over in the corner.

Even Newport fans didn't begrudge them that as they gathered to applaud Swansea off the field.

On a happier note Newport scrum half David Llewellyn made his first appearance at senior level for just over three years when he was sent on with ten minutes remaining.

Newport: P Montgomery, M Mostyn, H Luscombe. J Jones-Hughes (J Pritchard 55 mins), A Cadwallader (L Nabaro 77), J Strange, O Tonu'u (D Llewellyn 70), R Snow (D Pattison 55), P Young, C Anthony (A Garvey 66), S Raiwalui (captain), I Gough, S Ojomoh (R Jones 77), A Powell (M Veater 57), J Forster. Scorers -- tries: P Montgomery (2), J Jones-Hughes, O Tonu'u, S Raiwalui; conversions: J Strange (3); penalties: Strange (3); dropped goal: Strange. Swansea: G Swales, R Rees, S Payne, S Winn, M Robinson, A Thomas (G Henson 57), S Cordingley (D Pittard 78), D Morris (captain), C Balshen (C Wells 48), D Dorsey (S Pope 5-7 and 60), A Farley (J Slade 78), J Thomas, R Jenkins (G Evans 68), J Bater, R Francis (R Pugh 60). Scorers -- tries: D Dorsey, M Robinson, S Cordingley, S Payne; conversions: A Thomas (2); penalty: Thomas.