NEWPORT were brought back to earth with a bump by an impressive Llanelli outfit determined to display their own title credentials.

The Black and Ambers had been in free-flowing form prior to the weekend, particularly at Rodney Parade, but they produced comfortably their worst performance of the season.

The precision that has characterised their play was missing, there was a lack of ambition and they failed to go through the phases to ask questions of a determined Llanelli defence.

The wind was howling and it was bitterly cold, but that could not be used as an excuse.

None the less, Newport should have been celebrating an unlikely victory rather than reflecting on their first home reverse.

When Andrew Coombs burst over from a botched Llanelli line-out they led 13-12 with three minutes remaining.

And even when the visitors edged back ahead Newport had an attacking five-metre scrum and a handful of close-range lineouts but fluffed their lines each and every time.

But a late turnaround would have been hard on a Llanelli side that showed tremendous guts in defence as well as some marvellous off-loading in attack, while their pack has a much more rugged look than recent seasons.

They won the toss and opted to play with the wind in the first half and it didn’t look good for them when Dan Griffiths’ boot gave Newport a 3-0 lead at the break.

It was a first 40 minutes that was dominated by blown chances at both ends. Llanelli hooker Craig Hawkins knocked on with the line at his mercy after 16 minutes, while centre Tom Riley and winger Mike Poole were both unable to make the most of breaks for Newport.

Riley broke a couple of tackles in midfield on 19 minutes but was unable to beat the last man with no supporting men on his shoulder, while Poole hit the line at speed on 26 minutes but threw a wild pass when attempting to draw the full back.

However, Newport had a hard-earned lead and there was an expectation that they would stretch away in the second half.

Such designs were shattered on 50 minutes when Llanelli caught Newport napping at a line-out just outside their 22.

Hawkins threw to impressive lock Adam Powell, who promptly returned the ball to his hooker with a one-two that had already caught out the hosts in the first half. Aaron Shingler was in support and received a pass from his skipper to cross.

Things were to get worse for Newport when in-form flanker Richard Dale suffered a worrying injury, but thankfully after lengthy treatment he was able to walk off the pitch, albeit with some help.

The score kicked the hosts into action and props Dai Pattison and Gethin Robinson were inches short with powerful drives, but then disaster struck.

Newport disrupted a Llanelli line-out ten yards short, an area where Alex Jones excelled all afternoon, and prepared for another assault on the visitors’ line.

But the ball was slow and Griffiths’ forced pass was intercepted by Shingler, who raced 90 yards to cross.

The lock is a former Glamorgan and England Under-19s seamer and the pacy forward wasn’t fazed by the prospect of a race to the line that was longer than a Michael Holding run- up.

His try was converted and then came a quite incredible last ten minutes where Newport snatched the lead only to let it slip.

First Scott Williams burst over after Poole had impressively taken a high ball before slipping the ball to flanker Craig Hill to provide the assist.

And then Coombs sent the home faithful wild when he flopped over in dramatic circumstances.

Llanelli had a line-out five yards from their own line and Hawkins, who had faffed around with the calls all afternoon, much to the annoyance of the home fans, was told by referee Simon Harris to go back to his mark and hurry up with his throw.

He missed his man and instead found the grateful Newport skipper and it seemed that the Black and Ambers had somehow stolen it, despite both conversions flying wide.

But Hawkins incredibly turned from villain to hero in a matter of minutes.

Llanelli were given prime attacking location by an error by Griffiths, who kicked the ball dead after it had been passed back into the 22, and won the line-out.

Everything seemed to be covered by Newport but their defence around the ruck let them down and Hawkins was able to snipe through the middle and scuttle over for the winner.

It wasn’t the final act but Newport were unable to make the most of their chances at the end of the eight minutes of injury time and had to settle for a losing bonus point and plenty of regrets.

Newport: J Tovey, M Poole, T Riley, S Williams, M Pizey, D Griffiths, A Quick, D Pattison (I Evans 67), A Brown (M Leaman 70), G Robinson, M Workman (M Amos 67), A Jones, R Dale (D McShane 58), C Hill, A Coombs (captain).

Scorers: Tries – S Williams, A Coombs; penalty – D Griffiths.

Llanelli: D Newton, M Harvey, N Reynolds, M Brayley, N Jones, L Richards (A Banfield 53), G Cattle, I Jones (S Gardner 79), C Hawkins (captain), A Hopkins, A Powell, A Shingler, L Jones (S Peters 80), N Cudd, D Godfrey.

Scorers: Tries – A Shingler (2), C Hawkins; conversion – D Newton.

Referee: Simon Harris Argus star man: Alex Jones