NEWPORT won their fourth game of the season – and their third away from home – when they gained a narrow but deserved win over Carmarthen Quins at The Park, writes Huw S Thomas.

The Black and Ambers move up to fifth place in the Premiership table ahead of Gwent rivals Ebbw Vale but just behind Cross Keys with a third of the league programme completed.

The coaching duo of Craig Warlow and Tyrone Morris were happy men.

“We were up against it down 22-14 but there is a growing resilience in the squad “ said Warlow “and when they copped their second yellow card we finished them off.”

“This win will not only improve our league position but give the squad great confidence” said Morris. “and there is real potential to make it a good season.”

Up front Rhodri Jones, Lloyd Phillips and Rhys Jenkins were outstanding whilst behind the scrum young fly half Arwel Robson will have caught the eye of the Wales U20 selectors.

Play was dull and unenterprising for the first quarter, enough to disappoint the Wales U20 scouting duo of Jason Strange and Mark Taylor but a succession of yellow cards opened up the game.

As soon as the Quins lost flanker Ellis Lloyd to a deliberate slap down of a pass, Newport flanker Rhys Jenkins galloped hard through a gap to race in and make the conversion by Robson aformality.

Although the Black and Ambers then lost Alex Jeffries for 10 minutes after a high tackle, they kept their composure and increased their lead when wing Wes Cunliffe burst through a couple of weak tackles wide out.

But when Cunliffe was yellow carded for killing the ball at a ruck, the Quins hit back through scrum half Kieran Hardy who nipped over from close range and let fly half Dale Ford knock over the conversion.

A brilliant try, made and then finished by full back Chris Banfield shook Newport at the start of the second half and things got worse when Banfield again made the running to create a try for wing Gavin Thomas.

But when at 22-14.Quins prop Steff Thomas was yellow carded, the Black and Ambers responded ruthlessly.

Patience and power at the scrum was rewarded with a penalty try to tie the scores before a sweeping multi handling attack got full back Ed Howley over for bonus point try with seven minutes to go.

An excellent Robson penalty sealed the win right at the death.

Carmarthen Quins: C Banfield; K Jones, I Evans (M Griffiths 82), R Williams (D Morgans 82), G Thomas; D Ford, K Hardy (C Lloyd 60); G Robinson (C Rumbelow70), R Clancy (I Phillips 82), S Thomas (N Williams 64), J Helps (B Thompson 71), H Pugh (capt), L Taylor, S Jones, E Lloyd (S Evans 52)

Newport: E Howley; W Cunliffe, Haydn Palmer, A James (A King 74), E Frewen; A Robson, R James; J Lavender (J Greenfield 77), E Whitson (Henry Palmer 60), A Jeffries (T Piper 77), R Jones, D Partridge, L Phillips (B Morgan 68), R Jenkins, B Lampitt (capt)

Carmarthen Quins Tries: K Hardy, C Banfield, GThomas Cons:D Ford (2)

Newport Tries:R Jenkins, W Cunliffe, Pen try, E Howley Con: A Robson Pen: A Robson

Referee: Greg Morgan (Gorseinon)

Man of the Match: Lloyd Phillips (Newport)