THIS is just the first step. That is the pledge from chief executive Tony Brown after Newport won the Welsh Cup for the first time for 24 years yesterday.

They beat Neath 13-8 in a tense Principality Cup final at the Millennium Stadium to take the trophy for only the second time in their history.

It marked a triumphant finale for Newport captain Gary Teichmann in his last game for Newport before retiring and returning to South Africa. Teichmann was lifted shoulder high by his teammates after he accepted the trophy and took the salute from thousands of Newport fans - 32 coaches alone left the club for Cardiff.

Brown, whose huge investment has not only revived Newport Rugby Club, but paved the way for the cup to return to Rodney Parade at last, was ecstatic.

And he promised: "This is the first step. We are going further forward. "We have achieved something concrete, a cup is something specific because you can point to it.

"I found it an emotional experience from all aspects. It puts a belief and pride back into the town, you could see it out there.

"And it's tremendous to see Gary go out with a trophy. He couldn't do it with the Currie Cup, but he did it here. I wanted him to go home with something.

"I'm delighted with the squad and Allan Lewis and the training squad and most particularly I'm hugely pleased for the supporters.

"They deserve this because they have been fantastic over the season." Of the final Brown said, "Look what Neath did to Swansea, but they couldn't do it to us.

"Some aspects of the season have been disappointing, but it's all come back to life with this. Newport will talk about this for some considerable time, I hope it will be the same level next season."

Brown suggested a showdown with the English cup winners would be a nice way to start next season.

Teichmann believes the victory will give the side confidence for next season, though he won't be around, and he believes there is no need to sign new players.

"I think this win will take a bit of the pressure off the players. "When you've got the type of players we have and you're not winning things the pressure mounts up," he said.

"Maybe now they can go into next season with far more confidence. They've won something now and they can relax and enjoy things and play the way they can.

"There's a pressure of playing for your country, but this is totally different. You can't keep coming back week in, week out and making excuses. We hadn't won anything and this will stand them in good stead for next season.

"There's quality players here and they're capable of doing well. "As I've said to Tony Brown there is enough talent there to win the league and do well in the European Cup. It's just a question of getting the best out of what you've got.

"Sure if someone comes up and there's a good signing to make, fine, but there's no need to go out looking because there's a lot of talent available here."

The team received a rapturous reception from over 1,000 fans when they returned to the club with the cup last night.

Players were overwhelmed, experienced centre Andy Marinos saying, "In 11 years of playing rugby all over the world I've never seen anything like it."

Try scoring hero Adrian Garvey agreed. "I've never known anything like this," he said while Simon Raiwalui, who stayed on rather than return to Fiji, added: "It was awesome.