Cross Keys.......5 Newport.......66

CROSS Keys crumbled, conceding 21 points in the final seven minutes, as Newport cruised to a 66-5 victory at a packed Pandy Park on Saturday.

It was an unfortunate way to end life in the premier division, but a hard week had taken its toll as Newport followed on from matches against Cardiff and Swansea.

Both sides were below full strength, but clearly Newport's squad serves them rather better.

A number of non-regulars seized the opportunity, none more so than Emyr Lewis with a hat-trick of tries, but back row forward Joe Powell as well. Lewis, maybe better suited to full back than wing, has come on a great deal as a result of his experience with the Welsh sevens team.

And Powell has the line-out skills in particular which could see him take over from departing captain Gary Teichmann and make the need for a major new signing unnecessary.

Keys, on the other hand, have to regroup after a season which saw them at least win a game in the top flight and contribute wholeheartedly.

But it was nowhere near enough and they may now have to get ready for significant change.

Their tackling let them down on Saturday as Newport created gaps galore and, without playing that well, especially in the first half, won in a canter.

They gave their try tally a boost as well with nine of them. But if Bridgend win on Wednesday at Swansea, who clinched the title on Saturday, and score three tries Newport will end up in fifth place in the table.

That would hardly be a satisfactory finish and would make it even more important they lift the Principality Cup trophy next Sunday.

A combination of a bone hard pitch and over-fussy refereeing from Neil Ballard, making his debut at the top level, made it difficult in the first half at Pandy Park.

Newport were made to work hard for their three tries before the interval.

The first arrived via a line-out take by acting captain Ian Gough, a burst by Matthew Watkins and a pass by Andy Marinos to put Matt Mostyn over.

Then Lewis raced down the touchline and sent Marinos over on the inside.

Winger Simon Crane replied for Keys after Chad Bushell, making his 200th appearance, had done the spadework.

Then came the first of Lewis' hat-trick with a weaving run after being set up by Powell. He repeated the act early in the second half when Mostyn scorched through.

Watkins chipped in when he turned the defence inside out before Powell picked up at the back of a scrum to provide Lewis with his third.

That was the prelude to a late burst as Keys caved in, crucified in the scrums as Rod Snow and Adrian Garvey turned the screw.

Snow rightly won the supporters' club player-of-the-year award as he has even intensified his efforts this season.

Jason Forster put the 50 up for Newport when he plunged over from a line-out, then Lewis made a break to put Mostyn over and finally Scott Mitchell created some space for Marinos to scorch down the touchline and over.

Mitchell converted all tries and kicked a penalty for a 21-point haul.

First published on Monday 07 May 2001: