TWO of Newports unsung heroes insist it was team spirit which saw them through to their first away win in the Heineken Cup.

I dont think we could have done this last year, said try scorer, centre Jonathan Pritchard tellingly.

Its all coming together now, were all the best of mates, the feeling and the spirit are great.

You cant buy a team and if anyone had said after Connacht wed have won at Neath, Bridgend and Newcastle, well ... Now weve got to build on this.

Mike Voyle, another player whose performances have been vital, admitted Im happy here. It was a great win, especially when people have written you off.

I didnt see anything written up here about Newport which makes this all the sweeter.

Coach Ian McIntosh insists Newport must keep their feet firmly on the ground, his decision at prop vindicated and his own private thoughts coming true.

It was a team effort, selection was rotation, we have four props who can do the job, he said.

And I thought in my mind we might have the edge, and we should have got a couple more tries.

Asked if he was surprised at three successive away wins after a home defeat by Connacht he replied: Why not? We played badly against Connacht, but we should give them their due and say well done.

But now obviously we are pleased and it gives us the confidence to build on this.

Man-of-the-match Shane Howarth played down suggestions he had played his finest game for Newport and urged caution.

There was euphoria last season after Bath when everyone praised us, but we should have lost to Castres the week after, he said.

It was fantastic to come here and win, but its one win out of six games. There are areas to improve otherwise Toulouse will teach us a lesson next week.

We can take the positives away, it was a great win, but we cant let it slip. If we do Toulouse will beat us. He paid tribute to Newports fans, and to Jonny Wilkinson, as did McIntosh.

Our fans are fantastic, they follow us through thick and thin, said Howarth. After losing to Connacht there were 3,000 at the Gnoll, it was very satisfying to give them this win.

Jonny is world class, a great kicker, but Im behind a dominant pack and get a better ride.

McIntosh added, If Newcastle had scored in the stand, Jonny would have converted it from there. Howarth also praised the defence. Weve got great pride in our try line now and in our defence. Ian has come up with a pattern and were working on it.

But its Toulouse now, I dont even know who were playing after that.

And on his transformation as a kicker he explained: I changed my tee, Jason Strange gave it to me, it takes a while, its a mental thing.

I cleared my head, goal kickers think too much. Pete Cohen, a guy came in earlier in the week, gave me good advice and gave me motivation with the words he says.

An ecstatic Newport backer Tony Brown said: That was phenomenal, bigger than the cup final or Bath, to come to Newcastle, score three tries and beat the cup holders.

Newcastle chief Rob Andrew admitted: Newport are a very good side and put us under a lot of pressure.

Theyre a big side and very mature in age and experience, whereas were not. Were on a massive learning curve and I thought we performed well, we gave them 14 points, and one more pass near the end and wed have won 28-27.