Aberavon 20 Newport 27

“AT LAST, our first away win this season,” said a very relieved Newport coach Sven Cronk.

And it was very well deserved, with only a knock-on five metres from the home line at 27-13 meaning that a try-bonus was lost, while Aberavon swooped for a losing bonus in injury time.

It meant that Newport were the first winners at Aberavon this season and nobody had succeeded there since Sven’s boys won in April.

Cronk added: “I certainly will take that win as my forwards did splendidly. They more than held Aberavon’s solid scrum, and tight-head prop Gethin Robinson was huge for us.

“We also did well in the lineouts and Andrew Coombs had a very good game leading the side from number 8, while wing Michael Poole was excellent, even though he is struggling through with an ankle injury.”

Skipper Andrew Coombs was an outstanding leader and threatened the Aberavon line on several occasions before scoring the second Newport try, while it was a match to remember for fly- half Dan Griffiths as his three conversion kicks took him past 1,500 points for Newport – the first man ever to achieve it for the club.

It was a match in which Aberavon never led and, in truth, never looked likely to win. And it was enough for Newport to jump over the Wizards in the table.

With the likes of Scott Williams, Adam Hughes and Alan Awcock injured, Newport’s makeshift centres Nathan Williams and Chris Wannell did well, playing against the former Newport clubman Luke Hathaway in midfield.

Two good Wanell penalties against one by Aberavon ended a half at 6-3, though David Pattison went over only to be recalled from a Coombs pass.

Four minutes after the break, Wannell cut through and sent Poole across for Griffiths to convert. Cronk later said that he switched the kicker as Wannell had a leg twinge.

Though Matthew Jarvis’ penalty brought it to 13-6, Newport scored again when Poole raced past bemused defenders, and two passes later, Coombs took route one to the posts and Griffiths converted.

Aberavon again struck back as hooker Marc Breeze went over and Jarvis converted, with Newport losing the injured Paul Williams and Alex Walker.

However, a clever Griffiths chip let wing Will Harries race under the posts and Griffiths goaled for a 27-13 lead.

Aberavon then scored with a splendid 80-metre move in injury time, but by then Newport were well clear.

Aberavon: M Bennett; Richard Thomas, B John, L Hathaway, P Bamsey; M Jarvis (J Murphy 64), C Morgans (D Davies 73); N White (L Howell 62), M Breeze (B Thomas 75), A Edwards (I Poley 62), I Moore (capt) (G Ronan 65), C Gittins, J King, R Gallagher (A Bray 73), J Tipuric.

Yellow card – P Bamsey (50-60).

Tries: M Breeze, D Davies; cons: M Jarvis, M Bennett; pens: M Jarvis 2.

Newport: G Wyatt; W Harries, N Williams, C Wannell, M Poole; D Griffiths, A Walker (D Walsh 69); D Pattison, A Brown, G Robinson, D Rosser (M Workman 73), A Jones, S Waldron, A Coombs (capt), P Williams (R Dale 65).

Tries: M Poole, A Coombs, W Harries; cons: D Griffiths 3; pens: C Wannell 2.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Pontyberem).

Argus star man: Andrew Coombs.