NOT since May 2003 have Newport conceded so many points in a league match - indeed this their 87th game since that Neath mauling.

On rare occasions Newport played as if they were higher in the Welsh Premier Division table than Maesteg, but they were few and far between and the team that wanted it most beat a very scrappy Black and Amber outfit.

With rumours abounding that at least five of the Newport side are set to join Swansea not helping the Gwent side, there were only a few good efforts by Matthew Veater and Chris Davies in particular and a few strong rolling mauls to live in the memory.

Having helped Maesteg's chances of beating the drop, Newport travel to Pontypool on Saturday with Pooler hoping they are in a similar generous mood.

A sixth-minute penalty by fly half James Dixon gave Maesteg a lead they never lost. In 16 minutes, a Dan Griffiths pass was happily taken by Roddy Boobyer and slow he may be, the Newport back division never smelt him.

Left wing Richard Fussell popped up at right centre to pull a try back, but it was 22-5 by the interval after tries by prop Gareth Edwards and then wing Gareth John.

A James Dixon penalty came after 15 scoreless minutes of the second period, but Richard Dale opened Maesteg up the middle for Fussell to sprint clear and Griffiths improved the try.

Dixon shut the door firmly with a penalty, taken back 10 metres after Andrew Brown had spoken out of turn, and in the last three minutes a rampant Maesteg ran in tries by full back Lloyd Warner and wing Neil Dixon, both converted.

Lock Veater had to retire with an eye injury soon after the interval and Chris Davies limped his way through, while hooker Rhys James was sin-binned for a late tackle. All-in-all it was not a good night for Newport.

Maesteg: L Warner, G John, R Boobyer, A Brown, N Dixon, J Dixon, R Morgan, G Edwards, L Williams, S Tremlett (C Hopkins 78), M Collins, G Ronan, G Bartlett, M Wareham (capt), L Beech (J Jones 3). Tries: R Boobyer, G Edwards, G John, L Warner, N Dixon; cons: J Dixon (4); pens: J Dixon (3).

Newport: M Hooper, J Taylor, R Shorney (J Rowles 63), R Payne, R Fussell, D Griffiths, M Thomas (G Crothers 63), D Pattison (I Evans 63), R James (A Brown 63), G Robinson, C Powell, M Veater (M Workman 48), M Popham (A Brown 32-40), R Dale, C Davies. Tries: R Fussell (2); con: D Griffiths. Yellow card: R James (30-40). Referee: Nigel Owens (Pontyberem).

- As a consequence of last night's results Neath retain the championship thanks to their 40-19 victory over Bridgend and Pontypool slip back to the bottom of the table.

Neath meet Pontypridd, the only to have beaten them in the league this season, in the Konica-Minolta Cup final next month at the Millennium Stadium in a bid to complete the double.

Other results: Cardiff 40 Bedwas 22, Llandovery 35 Glamorgan Wanderers 15, Llanelli 18 Pontypridd 13.