It was an ill wind that sent Newport crashing to a 13-6 defeat at Bedwas, although coach Sven Cronk admitted his side contributed to their own downfall.

Still smarting after their cup exit at Maesteg last week, the visitors were hoping to recapture some form and chalk up a league double over Andrew Harrison and his men. Newport beat Bedwas 16-13 at Rodney Parade on November 18.

Those hopes were blown apart six minutes after the restart. Bedwas centre Phil Dolman, who kicked two first-half penalties to give his side a 6-0 interval lead, tried his luck with a 32- metre penalty kick, but this time into the gusting wind.

The ball sailed wide of the posts but Newport were wrong-footed as the ball hung in the wind and home outside-half Andrew James pounced for the only try of the match. Dolman celebrated his team's good fortune by defying the odds and slamming over the wide-angled conversion kick.

Outside-half Daniel Griffiths kicked two second-half penalties for Newport.

Sven Cronk, commenting later on Newport's performance, said: "Yes, the Bedwas try was lucky and their defence was outstanding but we failed to do the basics right. We did not adapt our play to the windy conditions and we paid the price. Having said that, I believe we can take some positives from the game. We were physically up for this match and we were competitive, in contrast to our showing at Maesteg."

Mr Huw David (Bridgend), who refereed at Maesteg, was again on duty at Bedwas. The Newport coach was less than impressed by Mr David's handling of the tackle area - also a bone of contention in the cup quarter-final tie. "I'm afraid Bedwas were allowed to slow down our ball and, to be honest, they got away with a lot. It's something which is happening generally in Welsh rugby and I believe the referees need to get on top of it," he said.

Mr David did sin-bin two Bedwas players - hooker Brian Edwards in the seventh minute after a flare-up among the forwards, and flanker Michael Jones in the 53rd minute for apparently making a tackle from an offside position.

Newport full back Ricky Williams produced a couple of threatening breaks in the first half, while lock Matthew Veater was an expert ball-winner at the lineout. But Bedwas had some real star performers in No 8 Neil Lewis, Jones - who was making his first team debut - and fellow flanker Phil Wheeler.

Bedwas coach Ian Gardner was full of praise for his side: "I thought we deserved to win. We got more points on the board through a fortuitous try but you make your own luck. In the end, Newport did not look like scoring. Our boys were heroic in defence and Newport really did not have an answer to it.

"Our target at the start of the season realistically was to try to overtake Cross Keys as the second team in Gwent behind Newport. With 35 league points now in the bank, who knows what our final position will be? If a couple of results go our way in the next couple of weeks, we could finish above Newport and that will be very satisfying."

Bedwas: H Locke (L Mullane 60), S Sankala, P Dolman (H Trelawney 66), A Harrison, capt, N Hill, A James, S Jones, G Leonard (J Tilley 63), B Edwards (P McGee 71), M Pettit (J Salter 18), R Edwards, K Larrard (S Pape 65), P Wheeler, M Jones and N Lewis. Scorers: Try - A James (46 min); con - P Dolman; pens - Dolman (20 and 29 mins). Newport: R Williams, J Taylor, G Chapman, R Shorney, capt, R Fussell, D Griffiths, G Crothers, I Evans (D Pattison 56 ), R James (A Brown 56), P Osborne ( G Robinson 23), C Powell (M Workman 61), M Veater, M Popham (N Watkins 75), C Davies and R Dale. Scorers: pens - D Griffiths (42 and 54 mins). Referee: Mr Huw David (Bridgend).