NEWPORT eased their relegation worries with an excellent victory over Llanelli at Rodney Parade which also brought an abrupt end to a four-match losing streak.

Despite being injury ravaged, the Black and Ambers completely dominated the game against a poor Parc y Scarlets outfit who offered virtually nothing.

The home side’s forwards bossed the game from start to finish in a display that was in stark contrast to the insipid effort in the 29-16 defeat to Bedwas away just seven days earlier.

Newport annihilated the visitors in the scrum, Llanelli unable to build any momentum or gain a foothold in the game.

The hosts’ backs also showed flashes of real brilliance and the failure to get a bonus point victory was down to the final pass just not going to hand or a desperate tackle saving the day when the West Walians were more or less on their knees.

But there was no overt disappointment at having to settle for four points rather than five as their head coach Sven Cronk philosophically said: “The most important thing for us was to get the win.

“I think the boys showed tremendous character after last week’s defeat to Bedwas.

“We were suffering from the fallout of the defeat to Ebbw Vale the week before when we had led by 16 points only to be sucker punched.”

Cronk added: “I think we should have been out of sight by half time against Llanelli and the final score flattered them because we dominated the game.

“There was no secret that our set piece had struggled but we’ve worked hard on it and I thought Gus (Newport Gwent Dragons front row forward Hugh Gustafson) was excellent and he helped (tighthead) Alex Jeffries out and I also thought (loosehead) James Greenfield was also superb.”

Newport got off to a great start with what should have been a spectacular try in the opening two minutes after a fantastic run by wing wizard Elliot Frewen found Owen Davies, the scrum half brought down just inches from the Llanelli try line.

The visitors’ openside Duane Eager was yellow carded for killing the ball at the ruck but the Black and Ambers infringed at the ensuing scrum.

The hosts’ early pressure was however rewarded when full back Geraint O’Driscoll put over a straight forward penalty.

But their lead was short lived after opposite number Frazier Climo equalised for Llanelli with one of his own.

A lovely break by centre Jamie Murphy eventually led to a fine try for outside half Julian Mogg as the home side showed great patience to go through the phases, O’Driscoll’s conversion giving them a 10-3 lead after 19 minutes.

But Climo closed the gap with two quick fire penalties as Llanelli clung on despite being under intense pressure at the scrum.

Newport were playing some attractive rugby but the final pass or a needless infringement prevented them building momentum, the impressive Frewen often causing chaos for the desperately defending West Walians.

Referee Gwyn Morris lost patience with the Llanelli scrum on the stroke of half time after it collapsed once again, tighthead Aled Hopkins being sent to the sin bin.

O’Driscoll’s penalty struck the posts, just about summing up Newport’s luck as they led by just a point at the interval when they should have started racking up a cricket score.

Another fine piece of play by Murphy put Llanelli under all sorts of pressure early in the second half but again they failed to finish the move off from his break, Frewen also going on another super run.

O’Driscoll did put them 16-9 up with two penalties, the last after Llanelli second row Ed Price was yellow carded for infringing at a ruck.

Again Climo kept the visitors in the game with his fourth penalty in the 58th minute.

There must have been fears that Newport might somehow blow it by allowing Llanelli to hit them from deep to consign them to another narrow and numbing defeat at the death.

But their frazzled nerves were eased when Murphy was put through a gap by Mogg to score a try just three minutes from time to make it safe, converted by O’Driscoll.

With Llanelli’s resistance broken, there was still time for Mogg to bag his second try in a breathless denouement, O’Driscoll again adding the extras.

Newport went in search of a bonus point victory but it was Llanelli who got the final score with the last move of the game when blindside Roy Osborn crossed for a converted try to give the score a veneer of respectability for his side.

Newport: Geraint O'Driscoll, Luke Morgan (Jonathan Lewis 11-26), Dan Robinson, Jamie Murphy, Elliot Frewen (Andrew Quick 19-22), Julian Mogg, Owen Davies (Andrew Quick 35), James Greenfield (Liam Jenkins 79), Hugh Gustafson (Dale Rogers 32-34, 70), Alex Jeffries (Craig Davies 79), Adam Brown (capt), Adam Frampton, Sam Waldron (Sam Feehan 40), Rhys Jenkins, Sam Cross.

Replacements: Evan Whitson, James Monck.

Newport scorers: Tries – Julian Mogg (19) (79), Jamie Murphy (77), Conversions – Geraint O’Driscoll (19) (77), (79), Penalties – Geraint O’Driscoll (9), (53), (56).

Llanelli: Frazer Climo, Gareth Walters, Richard Thomas, Johnny Lewis, Sam Evans (Jonathan Rogers 61), Stuart Morris, Justin James, Roy Jones, Darran Harris Torin Myhill 54), Aled Hopkins (Gareth Havard 50), Adam Powell (capt), Ed Price, Roy Osborn (Gareth Havard 44-50), Duane Eager (Owain Morgan 71), Craig Price (Tom Phillips 54).

Replacements: Sam Martin, Scott Gibson, Rhys Davies.

Llanelli scorers: Try – Roy Osborn (80), Conversion – Frazier Climo (80), Penalties – Frazier Climo (14), (23), (29), (58).

Referee: Gwyn Morris (Cardiff).

Argus star men: James Greenfield, Hugh Gustafson, Alex Jeffries.