Shane Howarth inspired Newport to overturn a half-time deficit and beat Edinburgh in a pulsating encounter.

The outside-half, who was panned after his display against Cardiff on Wednesday, opened the scoring for the Black & Ambers with a penalty and then played his part in a sparkling converted try for Simon Raiwalui in the ninth minute.

But Edinburgh looked very dangerous coming out of defence and tried to make a break at every opportunity.

Duncan Hodge had responded to Howarth's early penalty and then in the 36th minute the Scottish international went over for a magnificent try after an intricate handling movement involving 10 Edinburgh players.

On the stroke of half-time Hodge gave the visitors an 11-10 lead with a penalty after a heated disagreement between Newport's Matt Pini and lanky Edinburgh lock Richard Metcalfe.

Sweetly struck

It was a scrappy opening to the second period and on 50 minutes, Matthew Watkins replaced injured Nathan Brew as the home side upped the pace of the game.

Howarth made it 16-11 with a 55th-minute penalty from long distance after Edinburgh were guilty of holding back in open play.

Three minutes later Howarth went agonisingly close with a drop-goal attempt, but this was quickly followed by two sweetly struck penalties which took the score to 22-11.

Five minutes before the end, Ben Breeze intercepted an Edinburgh three-quarter movement out of defence to score the easiest of tries.

Howarth had no trouble converting before leaving the field to be replaced by Jason Strange with the score at 29-11.

In the latter stages, Edinburgh looked increasingly lacking in ideas as Newport enjoyed complete dominance in all aspects of the game.

Man of the match Andrew Powell had to leave the field due to injury, but by then Newport were well in command.

Newport (10) 29 Tries: Breeze, Raiwalui. Cons: Howarth 2. Pens: Howarth 5.
Edinburgh (11) 11 Tries: Hodge. Pens: Hodge 2.

Newport: M Pini; M Mostyn, N Brew, J Pritchard, B Breeze; S Howarth, D Burn; C Jones, J Richards, C Anthony, S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle, P Buxton, J Forster, A Powell.
Replacements: R Snow, P Young, G Taylor, G Gravell, M Watkins, J Strange, L Lane.

Edinburgh: C Paterson; C Murray, M Di Rollo, K Utterson, C Sharman; D Hodge, I Fairley; A Jacobson, S Scott, C Smith, M Jolly, R Metcalfe, D McKinnon (capt), G Dall, M Leslie.
Replacements: Robertson, Whittingham, A Davidson, A Dall, Blair, Howarth, Joiner.

Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster)