BBC SPORT | WELSH-SCOTTISH RUGBY | Whites booted into submission

Newport 24 Swansea 13

Newport overcame a strong Swansea challenge in an intense game at Rodney Parade.

Eight penalties, seven of them from fly-half Shane Howarth, sealed the victory over the indisciplined Whites, who scored the only try of the night through Scott Gibbs but also had two players sin binned.

Newport's foreign legion started as strong favourites and immediately tried to play the sort of rugby their reputation demanded.

Howarth, looking like the leading outside-half in Wales, directed matters superbly with the boot and also had the eye for an adventurous running game.

The All Whites, so often accused of under-achieving, were ready for the Newport onslaught, though, their stars having their minds focused for what they knew was the sternest of challenges.

Gibbs burst

It was the visitors who made the initial break, an attacking scrum giving Arwel Thomas the chance to work a dummy scissors with Mark Taylor, freeing Scott Gibbs to burst through and score under the posts.

The home side's charges, led by South African-stalwarts Gary Teichmann and Adrian Garvey, were met by a solid defence that rarely looked like being breached.

Newport's pressure was beginning to tell in the penalty count, though.

The under-fire Whites were forced to repeatedly infringe and they were punished severely by Howarth's unerring boot.

The Black and Ambers could have added a try in the 21st minute when a thrilling Marinos break led to a scrum five on the Swansea line.

Big Irish wing Matt Mostyn was added to the Black and Ambers pack, but Swansea's powerful front row simply drove them off the ball to win a vital penalty.

For all their endeavours Newport could only score through Howarth's kicking, but his faultless return gave them an 18-10 half time lead.

Plumtree fury

During the break a furious John Plumtree - the Swansea coach - confronted referee Paul Adams about the high penalty count.

James Griffiths and Tyrone Maullin (bottom right) were both sin binned in the second half
His temper could hardly have improved in the second half as two Swansea players were sin binned.

In the 47th minute lock James Griffiths charged towards Gary Teichmann. As the Newport skipper off-loaded, Griffiths came through with a stiff-arm challenge that caught the South African in the face - the yellow card was well deserved.

Just five minutes later Newport got a penalty for yet another Swansea offside offence. Swansea's own (Welsh-qualified) South African Tyrone Maullin stopped Newport from taking it quickly and was also sent to the cooler.

Yet Newport lost their composure against 13-man Swansea. By the time Maullin returned to the pitch his side had actually narrowed the gap to 21-13 thanks to an Arwel Thomas penalty.

Swansea dominated the final quarter, forwards and backs combining to run from all angles.

Swansea new-boy Gavin Henson was particularly prominent. Usually a fly-half, the youngster replaced Shaun Payne on the wing and was involved in all of his side's best moves.

But the Newport defence proved resolute and, with young full back Emyr Lewis adding the final penalty in place of a dazed Howarth, they emerged triumphant from a truly heavyweight encounter.

Scorers - Newport: Pens: S Howarth (7), E Lewis

Swansea: Try: S Gibbs; Con: A Thomas; Pens: Thomas (2)

Teams

Newport: E Lewis, M Mostyn, J Pritchard, A Marinos, M Llewellyn, S Howarth, D Burn, C Jones, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui, I Gough, P Buxton, G Teichmann (capt), J Forster
Replacements: M Pini, M Watkins, D Edwards, R Snow, P Young, G Taylor, A Popham

Swansea: D Weatherley, S Payne, S Gibbs (capt), M Taylor, M Robinson, A Thomas, R Jones, D Morris, G Jenkins, C Anthony, J Griffiths, T Maullin, P Moriarty, G Lewis, C Charvis
Replacements: S Martens, C Rees, G Henson, C Wells, B Evans, L Jones, D Thomas

Ref: Paul Adams


	^^ Back to top
	Front Page \| Football \| Cricket \| Rugby Union \| Rugby League \| Tennis \| Golf \| Motorsport \| Boxing \| Athletics \| Other Sports \| Sports Talk \| In Depth \| Photo Galleries \| Audio/Video \| TV & Radio \| BBC Pundits \| Question of Sport \| Funny Old Game ------------------------------------------------------------ BBC News >> \| BBC Weather >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMII\|News Sources\|Privacy