BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Celtic | Newport find elusive win

Celtic League - Pool B
Newport 24-8 Borders

Struggling Newport achieved their first victory of the season at the ninth time of asking by beating visiting Borders at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Newport coach Leigh Jones was delighted with his side's effort after ending their dismal run.

"It wasn't particularly pretty, but it was all about a win to get some confidence and to get the show on the road," Jones said.

Scoring details:

Newport (9) 24:
Tries: Luscombe, Ojomoh.
Con: Howarth.
Pens: Strange 4.

Borders (8) 8:
Try: N Walker.
Pen: Utterson.

Att: 5,700

"Borders are no mugs, they've got a lot of experienced and quality players which is why I'm so pleased with the result.

"I was starting to worry about things but hopefully we can build on this now."

Newport made hard work of it, though, with fly-half Jason Strange missing four easy penalty shots in a game littered by handling errors.

Much of the sloppiness probably stemmed from the fact that there was little but pride riding on this Celtic League match, as both sides were already out of the running for quarter-final places.

Newport also struggled at set pieces, with hooker Paul Young struggling to find his men at the lineout

It was only when replacements Shane Howarth, James Richards and Mike Boyle took the field that Newport showed any urgency.

Newport wing Alex Cadwallader
Alex Cadwallader launches a Newport attack

The trio helped spark the Black and Ambers in the final quarter as they scored two tries.

Centre Hal Luscombe got the first after pouncing on a kick head by Howarth and then ex-England back row Steve Ojomoh barged across after heavy pressure.

The earlier scoring was done by Strange, who found the target with four penalties, with Howarth converting the second try.

Borders had led for much of the first half, centre Kevin Utterson putting them ahead with a penalty and big winger Nicky Walker hacking on for their only try.

Newport: M Pini (capt); A Cadwallader, H Luscombe, S Williams, A Wagstaff; J Strange D Burn; D Pattison, P Young, A Garvey, M Veater, S Raiwalui, S Ojomoh, R Jones, G Gravell.
Reps: N Palmer, S Howarth, L Lane, C Anthony, J Richards, M Voyle, C Hill.

Borders: Tanner Vili; Nikki Walker, Jono Stuart, Kevin Utterson, Scott Paterson; Gregor Townsend (capt), Iain Fairley; Paul Thomson, Steve Scott, Bruce Douglas, Doddie Weir, Richard Metcalfe, Andy Rennick, Matt Taylor, Semo Sititi.
Reps: Gareth Morton, Clark Laidlaw, Chris Cusiter, Andy Mower, Colin Stewart, George Graham, Simon Gunn.

Referee: Olan Trevor (Munster).


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