NEWPORT clung on to win a thoroughly entertaining Gwent derby and edge a thriller which was in the balance until the very last second.

The Black and Ambers look to promise much this season and built on their encouraging performance last week when they gave champions Pontypridd a real scare.

This was their second win of the season, but it could so easily have been Bedwas celebrating that achievement.

And it was a dangerous Bedwas who started the stronger after their 50-18 mauling last week at the hands of Cross Keys and it took them just six minutes to open their account when wing Andy Evans pounced on a box kick by No 9 Luke Crane for the opening try which went unconverted.

On a glorious autumn afternoon at Rodney Parade, both sides looked to attack at every opportunity but errors by both sides kept scoring chances to a minimum until Bedwas captain and No 8 Deri Mattravers set off on a glorious run that should have ended with a try only for Newport to turn the visitors over on their own try-line.

The Black and Ambers finally came to life in the 20th minute when they put the Bridge Field side under huge pressure.

They came close to scoring after going through the phases from a driving lineout but wing Wes Cunliffe was held up over the line.

But they were on the board from the ensuing scrum five when No 8 Ollie Griffiths picked up from the base and fed wing Elliot Frewen whose try was converted by replacement back Arwel Robson.

Bedwas should have regained the lead in the 28th minute only for some fine last-ditching defence to keep their opponents at bay when they had an overlap.

It was the visitors who continued to dominate territory and possession but some poor handling errors prevented them getting their noses back in front in a scrappy passage towards the end of the first half.

And it was a clinical Newport who showed Bedwas how it was done when they scored a fine try against the run of play inn the 37th minute.

Replacement scrum half Ryan James made an immediate impact when he took a quick tap penalty and fed 2011 Wales World Cup player Aled Brew, playing in the centre, who set Cunliffe away, the wing's clever pass inside finding the promising Robson who crashed over before converting his own try.

The half ended with Newport somehow 16-6 ahead.

And they went even further ahead just three minutes into the second half when Brew showed his class, tearing through the Bedwas defence from deep before he passed Frewen who finished off a glorious try, his second, Robson's conversion in front of the posts giving the hosts a 24-6 advantage.

Again Bedwas were guilty of squandering an excellent try-scoring opportunity when No 10 Richard Powell, despite a great break, ran away from support when Steve Law's men had the home side in all sorts of trouble.

They did finally make Newport pay in the 54th minute when replacement back Lewis-Jon Hudd finished off well, Powell slotting over the conversion in front of the posts.

Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Elliott Dee's quality shone through when he scored Bedwas' third try in the 58th minute, powering over after bursting away from a driving lineout.

Powell's conversion reduced the Black and Ambers lead to 24-22 in a pulsating second half.

With the penalties at scrum time going the hosts' way, Newport clung on in there after Bedwas regained the momentum.

The hosts were given a great chance to put the game to bed five minutes from the end with a driving lineout that took them to within inches of visitors' try-line but they were denied by a crucial turnover.

Bedwas were given one last throw of the dice and a driving lineout to pinch it at the end.

But Newport just managed to hold them out and toast a breathless victory.

Newport: Llywarch ap Myrddin (Arwel Robson 21), Wes Cunliffe, Aled Brew, Aled James, Elliot Frewen, Matt O’Brien (Barney Nightingale 28), Owen Davies (Ryan James 33), Matt Prosser (Josh Powell 13), Evan Whitson (Alex Watkins 64), Lloyd Fairbrother (Tom Piper 52), Adam Brown (capt), Rhodri Jones, Rhys Jenkins (Brendan Lampit 64), Craig Attwell, Ollie Griffiths.  

Replacement: Bryce Morgan.

Newport scorers: Tries: Elliot Frewen (23) (42), Arwel Robson (37), Conversions: Arwel Robson (23) (37) (42).

Bedwas: Kurt Clabby, Andy Evans (Rory Budina 60), Connor Edwards, Mike Callow, Mathew John (Lewis-Jon Hudd 43), Richard Powell, Luke Crane, Brynley Toms (Matthew Pettit 39), Alun Rees (Elliott Dee 41), Joe Mills (Dan Preece 22), Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Andrew Waite, James Sawyer, Deri Mattravers (capt) (Corey Tucker 41).

Replacements: Sam Feehan, Tom Rowlands.

Bedwas scorers: Tries: Andy Evans (6), Lewis-Jon Hudd (54), Elliott Dee (58), Conversions: Richard Powell (54) (58).

Referee: Wayne Davies (WRU).

Argus star man: Ollie Griffiths.