Neath 11, Newport 19

NEWPORT ripped the formbook to shreds when they overpowered Neath on Saturday to achieve their first win at the Gnoll for seven years and only their second in 18 years.

It wasn't difficult to predict a Newport defeat after they had failed to beat Connacht at home four days earlier.

But they turned it around so well that they dominated the second half against the successful Neath team to send them reeling to a shock defeat.

It had been pretty much backs-to-the-wall in the first half as Neath held the upper hand, though Newport doggedly hung in there.

But there was only one side in it as the chants of "Neath, Neath' were silenced for once.

It was pretty grim, but the Newport pack showed they were up to the task this time as they ground Neath into submission.

Nowhere was Newport's superiority more evident than in the scrums where that gnarled, experienced pair Rod Snow and Adrian Garvey gave the three props Neath tried a real grilling.

Locks Simon Raiwalui and Mike Voyle were also a real force, Voyle again playing so well that his late arrival has proved an excellent investment.

Openside Jason Forster was at his spoiling best, getting among the Neath side, outplaying Brett Sinkinson and playing a vital role in Newport's try.

Peter Buxton was also a force, though his hands let him down when he played at number eight in the scrums.

But the real success for the second match running was Andrew Powell, starting on the blind side and finishing at number eight, with another rip-roarng performance.

It earned the 20-year-old the player-of-the-match award for the second game in a row, and this time Wales coach Graham Henry and team manager Alan Phillips were there to watch it.

Look out for Powell in the next year or so, and much the same can be said for Nathan Brew, not even 20 until April.

This blossoming teenager was a second half replacement, and though opposite Allan Bateman, lit the game up with a lightning thrust and chip ahead which led to the try.

Henry and Phillips will have taken due note.

Ironically, Brew is studying at Neath College and comes from the Swansea Valley just 10 miles away.

Also making an impression was former All Black scrum half Ofisa Tonu'u on his debut.

He backed the pack up well, often appearing like a ninth forwward, though Dale Burn also did well when he went on.

Tactically the match was a triumph for Shane Howarth, who has the fans holding their breath as he misses the easy ones then puts them over from the touchline.

But it was his kicks to the corner in the second half instead of trying for goal all the time which kept the pressure on Neath.

And after that blinding run by Brew down the left, Howarth had the vision to spread the ball to the right when he saw Neath wing Shane Williams down injured.

Forster acted as the all-important link and Emyr Lewis popped up on his outside from the opposite flank to touch down in the corner for a real cracker.

Bateman showed his class as he drifted outside an over-committed Andy Marinos to link with former Newport and Ebbw Vale outside half Shaun Connor, playing at full back for Neath, and then accept the return pass to go over.

Connor also kicked two penalties, but Howarth landed four, plus the conversion of Lewis' try from the touchline.

Given his ealier misses that success was unlikely, but so was the Newport victory.

Feet must be kept on the ground, but that has surely given the squad the confidence booster they need to make an impression in Europe.