NEWPORT centre Dan Robinson hopes the Black and Ambers’ growing team spirit will see them turn the corner in Saturday’s crucial clash at home to Swansea.

The Rodney Parade side’s Principality Premiership campaign has started poorly, the famous club bottom of the table with three defeats out of three.

There were some positive signs last Sunday when Newport showed courage in defeat, but they still went down to a heavy 38-18 setback.

The Black and Ambers were playing league and cup double champions Pontypridd at Sardis Road and only trailed by six points going into the dying minutes.

But although Ponty bombed several try-scoring opportunities, they still crossed the Black and Ambers’ whitewash five times, they were far better than their opposition who struggled in the scrum.

Still Robinson, 26, hopes his side’s grit and determination last weekend is a sign that things will get better, beginning with the visit of the All Whites to Rodney Parade.

“Last week we had a tough game against Ponty – you are always up against it with them – but I felt we came together a bit more against them and played more as a team,” he said.

“I thought we gave them a bit of a scare when we came within six points near the end, but we let the game slip by letting them score two late tries.

“We do need a win, starting this weekend against Swansea. We know they have a very good scrum and we need to be more clinical and take our chances against them.

“We have been creating chances this season – which is certainly no bad thing – but we need to start finishing them off.”

The gifted Robinson joined Newport from his native Pontypool last year and finished the season scoring seven tries in 12 appearances.

He is enjoying life with the Black and Ambers despite the poor results: “I am a Pontypool boy but I am really enjoying my time with Newport – they are a great bunch of boys.

“We did put together more of a team performance against Pontypridd and we seem to be clicking a bit more.”

Swansea won only three games out of 22 when they finished bottom of the league last season.

One of those victories was a 24-9 triumph over Newport at St Helen’s in April while the Black and Ambers hammered them 39-17 at home in November.

But it was the All Whites who knocked Newport out of the Swalec Cup when they triumphed in February’s 17-14 win at Rodney Parade.

They are five points ahead of Saturday’s hosts after beating Neath away 23-21 and securing losing bonus points at home over Cross Keys and Carmarthen Quins.