THE SCORELINE may not suggest it. but it was Newport’s defence that was the key to their play-off victory against Tonmawr on Saturday.

The Black and Ambers beat the Pitmen to move to within 80 minutes of next season’s British and Irish Cup.

However, they will have to produce a more complete performance at Pandy Park on Thursday than they did at Rodney Parade if they are to beat Cross Keys.

A half-time lead of 31-0 meant that Newport had the game in the bag by the time they headed back into the changing-rooms but they showed a complete lack of attacking threat after the restart.

Instead, they were put through a rigorous defensive drill as Tonmawr completely dominated territory and possession, although they could only muster one try.

However, Newport were still convincing and worthy winners and their key figure was scrum-half Jon Evans.

Yet it could have been a nightmare start for the number nine, who will head off to Italy for the Junior World Championships with Wales this summer.

In the first minute he threw an interception that would have given Tonmawr seven points had it been someone with slightly more gas rather than lumbering lock Andrew Gwynne who got their hands on the ball without a defender in sight 40 metres out.

But the defensive cover got there and in the end Evans prospered from being granted the freedom of Rodney Parade. It is likely he will be a marked man at Pandy Park.

The whole feeling around a Gwent shootout for the final place in the British and Irish Cup will be a world away from the slightly low-key atmosphere on Saturday.

Newport got their noses in front on nine minutes when a lovely flat ball by centre Matthew J Watkins, a class act at semi-professional level, put midfield partner Scott Williams clear in the Tonmawr 22.

He probably could have made the line himself but was content to provide an assist for hooker Andrew Brown to go under the sticks.

The Black and Ambers then had to survive a sustained period of pressure inside their own 22 against a Tonmawr side that showed excellent ball retention.

Newport’s defence and discipline was put to the test and they came through with flying colours, an effort that was rewarded with 24 unanswered points in the second quarter of the game.

First wing Elliot Wheaton burst through a gap in midfield from the second phases in the Ton 22 with Gareth Bowen adding his second conversion for a 14-0 lead.

The Black and Ambers prospered when they kept things simple; the chances came when they showed patience.

Yet there was nothing simple or routine about the way the hosts, and Evans in particular, punished Tonmawr while hooker Darryl Harvey was in the sin bin after one offence too many at the breakdown.

That infringement cost three immediate points and on 35 minutes scrum-half Evans sniped through a gap after receiving ball from the top of a lineout 10 metres inside Newport territory.

He was tackled but flicked the ball up from the ground to flanker Craig Hill, who shipped on to number eight Hugo Ellis, who in turn displayed great calm to float the ball out for wing Owen Broad to dash over.

It was a terrific score but was put in the shade when Evans got a deserved score on the stroke of half-time, scoring from inside his own 22 straight from a scrum.

The Tonmawr defending left a lot to be desired, but it was terrific how the young number nine spotted the gap down the blindside, picked a line through to the whitewash and then backed it up with scorching pace.

And all that while running with one bare foot after losing his left boot mid-flow.

Bowen again converted for a 31-0 lead and more points were expected from the hosts after the break.

That they did’n’t come was down to some home sloppiness (perhaps minds were wandering to Thursday) but it was also down to admirable commitment from the Pitmen.

It was clear that they were going to lose so it was clear that it would be their last game under the stewardship of Swansea-bound Jason Hyatt.

The head coach has done a marvellous job this season and his players responded in the second 40 minutes by producing a whole-hearted display rather than just going through the motions for 40 minutes before clocking off for their holidays.

Wing Steff Andrews went over in the right corner for the visitors but that was all they could manage thanks to some sterling Newport defensive work.

But the Black and Ambers spent a second 40 minutes under the pump with young loosehead prop Dafydd Morgan being tested out at scrum time, a tough examination that is sure to be repeated by Keys tighthead Marc Jones in a few days’ time.

And amid all the blood and thunder of a Gwent derby one thing is for sure, Newport are going to have to push hard for the whole 80 at Pandy Park as it is unlikely to be ‘job done’ at half-time.

Newport: J Leadbeater, O Broad, M Watkins (R Powell 73), S Williams, E Wheaton, G Bowen (J Davies 68), J Evans (L Robling 53), D Morgan (I Evans 71), Andrew Brown (M Leaman 63), G Robinson, A Jones (captain), Adam Brown (D Rosser 57), S Waldron, C Hill, H Ellis (D McShane 40).

Scorers: Tries – Andrew Brown, E Wheaton, O Broad, J Evans; conversions – G Bowen (4); penalty – G Bowen.

Tonmawr: E Frewen, S Andrews, D Ritchie, D Roberts, W Davies (G John 60), D Flanagan (L Richards 53), J Donovan (M Torrance 40), O Ford, D Harvey (I Dobbs 40), J Rees, A Gwynne, J Griffiths (L Joseph 39), L Purnell, C Price, R Hill (captain, I Dobbs 39-40).

Scorer: Try – S Andrews.

Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU).

Argus star man: Jon Evans.