Matthew Watkins hands off Wayne Munn

Having already beaten Cardiff and Neath this season, Connacht clearly fancied their chances against an under-strength Newport side.

Coach Ian McIntosh chose to leave Howarth, Springbok Adrian Garvey and Welsh international second-row forward Mike Voyle on the bench in the run-up to next Saturday's trip to Neath.

But the decision backfired as Newport wasted numerous chances through careless handling and woeful technical indiscipline.

Only 19-year-old centre Nathan Brew shone in attack, and although both Howarth and Voyle went on for the final 15 minutes they couldn't lift a dire Newport display from the doldrums.

The Gwent club now face an uphill task to qualify for the knockout stages of this season's inaugural competition, and there were disbelieving comments from a stunned crowd of just under 6,000.

Both teams had two players sin-binned by English referee John Barnard. Newport captain Simon Raiwalui went in the 14th minute, while his team-mate Paul Young was yellow-carded just after half-time for punching.

Connacht also twice found themselves reduced to 14 men, flanker Jonny O'Connor and prop Peter Bracken the villains - yet no one could argue with the final result.

Chris Anthony goes on the charge

Newport fly-half Jason Strange and his opposite number Mark McHugh kicked early penalties and they each added a further penalty before Munn sprinted clear during first-half injury time.

The Connacht wing gratefully accepted Newport scrum-half Dale Burn's wayward pass 40 metres out, and Newport had no one to stop him from claiming a touchdown that McHugh improved.

Leading 13-6 at the break, Connacht inched further ahead when substitute Eric Elwood booted a penalty - but then it was all hands on deck as Newport tried desperately to rescue the match.

Howarth kicked a penalty six minutes from time, and flanker Andrew Powell stormed over for a try in injury time.

But Howarth crucially could not convert and then missed a last-gasp penalty from 25 metres, and Connacht could celebrate.