Newport....42 Edinburgh....32

WHAT a difference a week makes! Seven days before Newport had suffered a record 70-18 defeat in France and on Saturday they completed their European campaign with their biggest score of the season.

Edinburgh may not be Toulouse, favourites of many to win this seasons Heineken Cup, but they are much better than they were and were unlucky not to complete the double over London Irish.

And we all know what the Irish did to the Black and Ambers at the Madjeski Stadium recently.

This was by no means a faultless Newport performance. There were still too many errors, still much bad defending and collectively the players still looked a yard slower than their rivals.

They also virtually had to win the most entertaing game at Rodney Parade this season three times, an Edinburgh squad containing nine internationals showing resilience and flair to hit back from 19-8 and 32-18 down to tie it at 32-32 five minutes from time.

Edinburgh coach coach Frank Haddon claimed they would have won had replacement prop Rammin Mathieson not been sin-binned five minutes from time and only three minutes from the end for kicking Newport skipper Simon Raiwalui.

He should have been given the red card and 22-point hero Jason Strange kicked the penalty anyway, so Newport would probably have held on.

Newport lock Mike Voyle, a tremendous work-horse, was yellow-carded too, along with Edinburgh No 8 Andrew Dall, after a touchline punch-up, and in the time the sides were down to 14 men Edinburgh scored 14 unanswered points to level matters.

But effervescent scrum half Ofisa Tonuus close-range try just before time sealed a victory Newport thoroughly deserved and desperately needed.

Make no mistake, after the previous weeks disaster, Newport showed tremendous guts, character and spirit and not a little skill to end their Heineken Cup campaign on a high.

Though there was nothing on the outcome, both sides showed they regarded the tie as far from meaningless and went all out to win the ten-try thriller.

Many played well for Newport, particularly the half backs, while No 8 Andrew Powell, out of favour much of this season, showed some of the form that made him a fine prospect last campaign.

Flanker Jason Forster, highly critical of the side in France, tried to lead by example with two of Newports five tries.

Newport opened with guns blazing and some excellent driving, handling and continuity should have put them ahead before prop Rod Snow popped up as so often on the right wing to open their account with a try.

Two converted Forster tries to a counter-attacking touchdown from Edinburgh full back Derrick Lee and a Chris Paterson penalty left Newport 19-8 ahead after 30 minutes of dominance.

But swift handling for the first and concerted driving for the second earned Edinburgh tries for flanker Alister Hogg and prop Craig Smith and at half time the tide appeared to have turned.

However, Strange kicked a monster 42nd-minute penalty and then jinked though from close range after Newport had turned the ball over and seemed to have settled nerves with an eleven-point advantage. Another Strange penalty made it 32-18, but back came Edinburgh and it was touch-and-go until the final Newport score from Tonuu had the 5,880 home fans cheering.

Newport: S Howarth, M Mostyn, H Luscombe, J Pritchard, L Nabaro, J Strange, O Tonuu, R Snow (C Jones 73min), J Richards (P Young 73min), A Garvey (C Anthony 49min), S Raiwalui, M Voyle, I Gough (R Jones 53min), J Forster, A Powell.

Scorers: tries: Forster (two), Snow, Strange, Tonuu; conversions: Strange (four); penalties: Strange (three).

Edinburgh: D Lee (B Laney 70min), C Sharman, C Joiner, T Philip, S Webster, C Paterson, H Burns (M Blair 28min), C Smith, D Hall, J Brannigan (R Mathieson 74min), A Kellock, S Murray (G Perrett 59min), T Blackadder, (S Cross 68min) A Hogg, A Dall.

Scorers: tries: Lee, Hogg, Smith, Philip, Laney; conversions: Paterson (two); penalty: Paterson.

* Newport Rugby have called off their United game this evening against English outfit Harlequins.