NEWPORT won their opening game of the Premiership to give great hope that they will emulate or better last year’s ninth place in the 16-strong league, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Black and Ambers outscored the Quins by four tries to two and had the man of the match in fly-half Matt O’Brien, who notched a personal haul of 19 points in an outstanding display of running and kicking.

Mindful of the importance of starting off well in a season of cutthroat intensity which will see at least four clubs relegated, they were very competitive from the very start and fully deserved their bonus point win.

The Welsh Rugby Union’s disregard and unconcern over the future of some of the country’s most famous clubs such as Newport – a club that has taken the scalps of touring South African, New Zealand and Australia sides - hung heavy in the warm Carmarthen air.

Opening exchanges were fast and furious in perfect running conditions, Quins full back Aled Thomas missing a 35-metre penalty, home wing Dylan Morgans making two good breaks and flanker Ellis Lloyd haring in under the Newport posts only for play to be recalled for an earlier infringement.

Newport defended with gusto under skipper and No 8 Rhys Jenkins but when wing Jon Morris was forced to concede a scrum five in the 24th minute, Quins No 8 Lewis Millin shrugged off tackles to burst over, Thomas converting from wide out.

The Black and Ambers responded quickly with backs and forwards handling well, ending with Matt O’Brien taking a pass from Jenkins to race in under the posts, the fly-half converting.

It got better for the visitors when good approach work from centres Tom Pascoe and Chay Smith and support from Dragons lock Rynard Landman saw scrum-half Ryan James putting O’Brien arrowing through on the angle.

The conversion made it 14-7 to Newport at the break, their quick and alert fly-half responsible for all 14 of his side’s points.

A long, raking kick from Pascoe got good field position for an increasingly confident looking Newport, who forced a number of turn overs.

A dazzling run from O’Brien ended with Smith putting fellow centre Pascoe over, O’Brien converting for a 14-point lead.

The score shook the Quins and they cut the deficit from a line out with fly-half Wilson squeezing over wide out.

The recovery petered out, Newport getting more turnover ball in the tackle area and it was no surprise that flanker Kyle Taylor was first to the loose ball for Newport’s well-deserved bonus point try.

O’Brien finished off a good day with a penalty in injury time.

Carmarthen Quins: A Thomas; D Morgans, N Reynolds, J Batcup (S Lloyd 80), M John (D Ford 51); J Wilson, L Davies (S Marshall 79); G Robinson (S Phillips 71), T Myhill (T Ball 79), C Allen (C Francis 65), S Jones (L Taylor 70), H Pugh (capt), E Siggery, L Millin (G Davies 70), E Lloyd

Tries: L Millin, J Wilson; Con: A Thomas

Newport: E Frewen; H Lang, C Smith, T Pascoe (M McGovern 79), J Morris; M O’Brien, R James (G Watkin 71); D Preece (L Smout 62), H Palmer (E Whitson 62), T Piper (D Harris 53), J Bartlett, R Landman (M Reed 53), J Skinner, R Jenkins (capt), K Tayler (J Reid 80)

Newport – Tries: M O’Brien (2), T Pascoe, K Tayler; Cons: M O’Brien (3), Pens: M O’Brien

Argus star man: Matt O’Brien