CRAIG Warlow hopes Newport’s Principality Premiership tier two title triumph “marks the start of a new era” for the club.

Head coach Warlow looked on with pride on Saturday night as his side sealed a 32-14 play-off final victory against Neath at the Gnoll.

With fears surrounding the future of the Black and Ambers and their Rodney Parade home now eased, more silverware will now be Newport’s aim.

“It’s been a really enjoyable process trying to qualify for the semis and final, and now winning the final,” said Warlow.

“You get peaks in your career, and this might not be the absolute peak, but it’s definitely one of those peaks.

“It is a big lift for the club. It’s good for these boys and guys like Geraint O’Driscoll, Elliot Frewen and Adam Brown because they’ve been here a fair while.

“We’ve had to coach them through some poor times but hopefully beating Neath is a small payback.

“I was just really pleased for the boys that we saved a decent performance for the big night.

“It’s a night we’ll remember for a while and hopefully one that marks the start of a new era.”

As for what the team has to do to push for higher honours next term, he added: “The aim is to start really well and take it from there.

“We’ve got to ensure we have all our best players fit.

“We’ve beaten some of the top sides this season and it’s about doing that consistently.

“If we can get a good start then momentum will breed confidence, the complete opposite to what happened last year.

“We started really poorly and that bred a lack of confidence.”

Assessing Saturday’s game, Warlow said: “Neath came with a real intent at the set-piece and breakdown to stop us getting into the game, which I understand, and it worked.

“They brought loads of emotion and fury, and it just really knocked us off our perch.

“We tried to get structure but couldn’t get any continuity because our set-piece was faltering.

“Our lineout was functioning and we were giving away penalties left, right and centre.

“It wasn’t about changing anything, it was about making sure we got into the game, and when we did in the second half it was evident for all to see we could stretch them with ball in hand.

“The longer the game went on and the more possession we had, the more we could stretch the defence, and the gaps opened up.

“Collectively, we always knew we could score tries and as the game went on we clicked into gear.”