Newport 15

Swansea 18

THE misery shows no sign of abating for Newport after a late Swansea try condemned them to another Premiership defeat.

The Konica Minolta Cup is the Black and Ambers' only solace following their fourth defeat of the season at Rodney Parade courtesy of winger Nicky Jones' late clincher, and yet again it was a game that the hosts could easily have won.

Newport held the lead for most of the game but in reality they can have no complaints about losing to a side that showed more adventure and cutting edge behind the scrum.

The hosts will point to the 69th-minute red card for flanker Paul Williams for a stamp as a pivotal moment - a decision that head coach Ian Hembrow says they will appeal on grounds of mistaken identity - but it was failure to put enough points on the board after a first half when they had the wind at their backs that really cost them.

The Black and Ambers had chance for a shot at goal for the draw in the last minute but realised a share of the spoils would only paper over the cracks. That they made a complete hash of the lineout after kicking to within five yards summed up their afternoon.

Newport's points all came from the boot of outside half Dan Griffiths, two penalties in the first half and three in the second, but he was outshone by opposite number Dan Biggar who gave an glimpse of why he is rated so highly.

Wales will be hoping he shows the quick hands and probing kicking when he returns to the Parade for the under-20 Six Nations.

The brightest spot for Newport would have been the display of scrum half Alex Walker who was lively throughout and made a number of crucial cover tackles, while Williams looked in good shape before his dismissal.

But Newport's line-out was a shambles and their tactical kicking was woeful - a worry considering that is the facet of the game that Griffiths and full back Mike Hook specialise in.

They barely tested Swansea's defence, with former Dragon Aled Brew putting in a good shift for the visitors, and wingers Will Kershaw-Naylor and Mike Poole can have little complaint about not seeing much of the ball after making a hash of things when it did arrive.

Turning around for the second half with a six-point deficit after playing into the wind would have put a spring into Swansea's step and even slipping nine back didn't deter them as they crossed for the only tries of the game.

First Harbir Singh was at the bottom of an impressive drive from a five-metre line-out, beating Newport at their own game, and then Jones bundled his way over with 79 minutes on the clock.

Then came the late penalty and the instruction from head coach Ian Hembrow to go for the corner.

"We had the bonus point and a draw would have only given us another point," he explained.

"A win would have put is in better shape and I was happy with the call, but I am unhappy with the execution of the line-out.

"Individuals missed tackles throughout, and particularly for that last try, and those sorts of things are happening too often and are costing us games."

His charges had better make their tackles against Llanharan in the cup on Saturday or it's a long few months until next September.

Newport: M Hook, M Poole, N Wakley, S Williams, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths (J Dixon 80), A Walker (M Thomas 80), D Pattison (captain, I Evans 67), A Brown (M Leaman 67), D Evans, M Workman, M Veater, R Dale (R Field 80), P Williams, A Coombs (T Organ 80).

Scorers: penalties - D Griffiths (5) Red card: P Williams (69, stamping) Swansea: J Lewis, R Jones, A Brew, R Payne, N Jones, D Biggar, P Tucker (R Wells 67), A Wyn Davies, A Joy, D Matthews, G Ronan, M Collins, H Singh, M Evans (captain), S Kiley (M Popham 53).

Scorers: tries - H Singh, N Jones; conversion - D Biggar; penalties - D Biggar (2) Yellow card: R Payne (61, hands in the ruck).

Referee: Simon Harris