Newport 59 Llanharan 17

OUTSIDE-HALF Daniel Griffiths moved within two points of current Dragons coach Paul Turner's all-time Newport individual scoring record of 1,145 with a haul of 19 in this easy Konica-Minolta Cup fourth- round win at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Griffiths contributed a try and seven conversions as Newport ran in nine touchdowns to demolish their brave but limited First Division East opponents and put aside concerns about their under-achieving league campaign.

"I was pleased the lads expressed themselves," said coach Ian Hembrow.

"Credit to Llanharan, they started the game well, but in the end the strength of our set piece and the pace of the game took its toll.

"The cup is a huge focus for us now and we've discussed the possibility of a genuine shot at this competition and a top-five league place."

In those opening ten minutes Llanharan, winners of just two league games and relegation favourites, took the game to the home side and were held on the line on one occasion.

But once Newport imposed their power up front, particularly at the scrum, the result was never in doubt.

Impressive number eight Andrew Coombes opened the scoring after just ten minutes when he touched down at the back of the scrum after Newport had driven Llanharan back 10 metres.

Seven minutes later Llanharan were shunted back again, conceded a penalty from which Newport opted for another scrum, and from a third put-in the way was cleared for Griffiths to touch down on the way to reaching 1,143 points to Turner's 1,145.

Llanharan scrum-half Greg Jones replied with a try from a quick tap penalty close to the Newport line, but immediately left wing Mike Poole joined the line at pace to put full back James Dixon over before centre Scott Williams was sent across for two tries, the second after two neat dummies, for Newport to lead 33-5 at the interval.

In the second half a late penalty try awarded when Llanharan illegally prevented a likely try-scoring pass was added to further Newport touchdowns by Coombes, Poole and Will Kershaw-Naylor.

Llanharan responded with tries of their own by replacement Gary Williams and fellow wing Dorian Thomas, former Cross Keys outside-half Gethin Worgan converting the latter, but both initially resulted from Newport losing possession when trying to run the ball from within their 22.

This aspect of their play and some weak defensive kicking at times when under pressure are things they must eradicate, but otherwise there is no obvious reason why Newport shouldn't give their dwindling number of fans something to cheer in the final few months of the campaign.

Newport: J Dixon, M Burke (C Young 50), W Kershaw-Naylor, S Williams (M Hook 65), M Poole, D Griffiths, A Walker (M Thomas 55), D Pattison, A Brown (M Leaman 47), G Robinson (I Evans 40), M Workman, M Veater, R Dale (R Field 68), C Hill (P Williams 68), A Coombes.

Scorers: Tries - Coombes (2), Williams (2), Griffiths, Dixon, Poole, Kershaw-Naylor penalty try; conversions - Griffiths (7).

Llanharan: G Shalton, D Thomas, L Thomas, J Harris, E Frewen (G Williams 24), G Worgan, G Jones, A Ford, K Worgan, G Edwards, N Eaves, L Davies, J Jones, J Myatt (N Allen 65), C Beasant (C King 50).

Scorers: Tries - G Jones, G Williams, D Thomas; conversion - G Worgan.