CROSS Keys star player Tom Lampard hopes his side’s hard-fought mudbath victory over fierce rivals Newport will kick-start their Principality Premiership campaign.

The Pandy Park outfit had to dig deep to see off an all mighty late surge by the Black and Ambers before they squeezed home.

Keys had lost their previous four games – three of them heavily – after a disastrous British and Irish Cup campaign and a 27-10 defeat to Pontypridd last weekend.

The pressure was on last season’s Premiership runners-up to deliver against Newport and they did – but only just.

Newport will take heart from their narrow setback which lifted them off the bottom of the league table after securing a losing point – but they could so easily have been toasting a famous win.

Keys second row Lampard, who had a fine game at the lineout and was excellent in the loose, is confident his side’s triumph, which lifts them up to fifth, seven points behind Cardiff, can put them back in the title race.

“We were relieved to get the win and it was such a vital one – it is a real step in the right direction after such a disruptive British and Irish Cup campaign,” the 30-year-old said.

“It can help us build and start pushing to get back into contention in the Premiership.

“We’ve got ambitions to get back into it as well as finishing as Gwent’s top club once again at the end of the season.”

Newport captain and their promising openside flanker Ollie Griffiths was frustrated not to get the win but greatly encouraged by coming so close.

“We were a little unlucky to come just short, but we’ve come on leaps and bounds in the space of a week after our disappointing 35-6 defeat away to Llandovery,” the Newport Gwent Dragons man said.

“It gives us something to build on and we are looking to push on when we go to Aberavon on Saturday.”

An even game had seen Keys deservedly lead 14-6 at the interval before a spirited fight back by the visitors produced a thrilling denouement.

It was far from a classic but, in fairness, the heavy conditions ensured it was never going to be an open game packed with exciting back play.

The hosts dominated the scrums and used their advantage to build that eight-point advantage at the interval thanks to three penalties by Newport old boy Ethan Davies playing at No 10 and an unconverted try by their superb openside flanker Scott Matthews.

Newport’s points in the opening 40 minutes came from the boot of their full back Geraint O’Driscoll who slotted over two penalties.

If Keys had the better of the first half, it was Newport who were in command for much of the second.

O’Driscoll’s third penalty in the 52nd minute was scant reward for all their territory and possession as Keys failed to exert any control.

Davies had a bit of a shocker at outside half and was unable to get the hosts back into the game with some very poor kicking.

A rare piece of magic saw Matthews give his side good field position when he set off on a barnstorming run and kick ahead in the final quarter.

Keys subsequently won a penalty which Davies failed to kick, his effort from a simple attempt rebounding off an upright.

The home side looked as though they would finally see the game home comfortably in the closing minutes only for some heroic Newport defence to keep them out.

And it was Newport who finished on top when they laid siege to Keys’ try-line.

They went close several occasions and could have had a penalty try when replacement scrum half Owen Davies took a quick tap and go only to be impeded by Keys defenders who had not retreated far enough.

As it was, the home side somehow clung on for dear life to take the spoils.

Cross Keys: J Cordy-Redden, P Uhi, L Andrews (capt), A James, E Jones, E Davies, R James (J Leadbeater 60), R Cornock (L Garrett 64), D Hughes (J Howard 64), A Lott (C Gould 76), D Hodge, T Lampard, R Tucker (J Skinner 67), S Matthews, A Powell.

Replacements: S Williams, R Lee, N Trowbridge.

Cross Keys scorers: Tries – Scott Matthews (10), Penalties – Ethan Davies (6) (25) (39).

Newport: G O'Driscoll, O Broad, J Morris, B Nightingale, E Frewen, J Murphy, A Quick (O Davies 64), D Pattison (J Greenfield 58), D Rogers (Andrew Brown (58), A Jeffries, Adam Brown, A Frampton, R Jenkins (S Feehan 77), O Griffiths (capt), S Cross.

Replacements: J Monck, D Partridge, R Gibbon, J Mogg.

Newport scorers: Penalties – Geraint O’Driscoll (15) (35) (52).

Referee: Greg Morgan (WRU).

Argus star men: Scott Matthews and Tom Lampard