NEWPORT'S local derby match against Pontypool produced plenty of good rugby and nine sparking tries, but sadly it will be remembered for an ugly 16th-minute brawl that resulted in the visitors’ prop Neil Giles being sent off. From then on, it was a canter for Andrew Coombs and his side as they comfortably chalked up a bonus-point victory.

Referee Mr Leighton Hodges (Bridgend) had little option but to show the red card to Giles who, in a moment of madness, belatedly charged like a bull into the affray with a dangerously raised forearm. Pontypool wing forward Morgan Allen, along with Newport flanker Sam Waldron and wing Mike Poole, were also sin-binned following the incident.

Bitter hostilities broke out once again just two minutes later in front of the main grandstand with dismissed Giles somehow still in the chaotic picture, but after protracted discussions with his assistants, Mr Hodges decided to only issue a stern general warning through both captains.

Bottom-of-the-league Pontypool were always going to face an uphill climb against their more powerful neighbours, but being reduced to 14 men so early made their task virtually impossible. The visitors did not help their cause either when two more players – hooker Rhys Buckley and centre Dan Robinson – also picked up yellow cards in first- half injury time. So Pooler incredibly found themselves down to 12 men at the interval when they trailed 32-0.

Back to the rugby and Newport outside-half Chris Wannell put in an outstanding first-half performance before calf trouble forced him to miss the whole of the second period. Wannell crossed for a smart try in first-half stoppage time after a clever, jinking run to the posts. He also kicked two penalty goals and three conversions for a personal haul of 17 points.

Sharp-running wing Alan Awcock burst over for tries in the fifth and 44th minutes, while other touchdowns came from centres Scott Williams and Nathan Williams before the interval and full back Gareth Wyatt and Poole.

Replacement fly-half Shaun Connor added the conversion points to the three second-half tries – his second kick hoisting his points total for the club to 901. Connor is only the fifth Newport player to pass that milestone.

Pontypool can at least take some comfort from a much better second- half display when they deservedly crossed for two tries by wing Dan Connolly and centre Phil Price, both converted by full back Geraint O’Driscoll. Two other men who did well for the troubled visitors were big lock Sam Pailor and replacement three-quarter Gareth John, playing on permit from Tonmawr.

Newport head coach Sven Cronk said after the match: “I thought we played some tremendous rugby in the first half. We showed real pace and tempo and our ability to hold on to the ball for long periods clearly caused frustration in the Pontypool ranks. After clinching a bonus point before the interval, the game went a little flat but all the real damage was done in that eventful first half.”

Pontypool head coach Gareth Lintern commented: “Obviously all our preparations for the match went out of the window when we had to reorganise after the red-card and yellow-card incidents. Against Newport at Rodney Parade there was only going to be one result after that. We spoke harshly to our players at half-time and made it clear it was up to them to redeem themselves. Everyone saw in the second half what we could do when we had the ball. Even with 14 men, we tried to play rugby and we scored two nice tries.”

Newport: G Wyatt; A Awcock, N Williams, S Williams, M Poole; C Wannell (S Connor 40), A Walker (A Quick 48); D Pattison (I Evans 53), A Brown ( M Leaman 53), L Hunter, D Rosser, A Jones (M. Workman 51), S Waldron, P Williams, and A Coombs (captain) (R Dale 46).

Tries: A Awcock (5 and 44 mins), S Williams (35 mins), C Wannell (40+1 mins), N Williams (40+5 mins), G Wyatt (49 mins) and M Poole (68 mins); pens: C Wannell (10 and 22 mins); cons: C Wannell (3), S Connor (3).

Pontypool: G O’Driscoll; N Williams, D Robinson (G John 45), P Price, D Connolly; S Mills (captain), T Edwards (C Morgan 65); N Giles, R Buckley, N Blake (L Davies 56), R Bowen (D Critchley 63), S Pailor, M Allen (J Jeune 53), R Watkins (G Morris 56) and G Webb (M Williams 69).

Tries: D Connolly (53 mins) and P Price (72 mins); cons: G O’Driscoll (2).

Referee: Mr Leighton Hodges (Bridgend).

Argus star man: Chris Wannell.