NEWPORT captain Lee Beach believes his Black and Ambers side are “their own worst enemy” after slipping to another frustrating defeat, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.
On Saturday they lost their Gwent derby to Bedwas 31-20 at Rodney Parade despite being the better side in the first half and leading 17-9 just after the break.
But the hosts were a shambles in the second half as Steve Law’s men emerged as worthy winners to seal their third win on the bounce while the home side were left to rue another poor performance.
Two defensive blunders of the highest order gifted the Bridge Field side a pair of tries that turned the tide in their favour.
Back row forward and skipper Beach, with full-time professional experience at the Ospreys and London Welsh, wasn’t best pleased with his side’s performance and calls on his men to sharpen up for another derby this weekend.
The old enemy Cardiff are the visitors on Saturday as Newport look to avenge their 32-17 defeat away in the Principality Premiership in October.
“It’s is so frustrating,” admitted Beach in the wake of the Bedwas defeat.
“I think we are our own worst enemies at the moment because we keep playing well in patches and then we go and do something silly.
“We need to be a bit more consistent. We had been looking to follow up our excellent win and the positives we showed against Neath the week before, but unfortunately it just didn’t happen.”
On the Cardiff showdown this weekend, Newport without a win over the Blue and Blacks for nearly two years since completing the double over them in the 2011/12 season, Beach added: “We owe them one after losing there earlier this season and we certainly need to get our house in order before facing them – it’s going to be a big week in terms of our preparation.”
Cardiff come to Rodney Parade with their tails between their legs despite what had been a bright start to the season.
Their last two encounters have seen them massacred 38-10 by Cross Keys at Cardiff Arms Park before they shipped six tries in a 43-24 mauling away at Llanelli.
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