NEWPORT kept alive their hopes of lifting the WRU National Cup for the first time since 2001, as they edged past Swansea at Rodney Parade in the first round of this season’s competition.

Craig Warlow’s troops trailed 18-8 going into the break but a penalty try and the boot of fly-half Matt O’Brien saw them come from behind to go through.

All Whites outside-half Jac Wilson gave his side the perfect start with an early penalty, before the away team scored the first try of the tie with 11 minutes gone.

Playing with a penalty advantage after the hosts had strayed offside, Swansea scrum-half Rhodri Wells put up a testing, if slightly optimistic, kick for the last Newport man to deal with.

He couldn’t cope under pressure and visiting full-back Rhys Williams simply caught the ball and crashed over. Wilson failed to add the extras.

Newport’s failure to hit the ground running then saw them go 11-0 behind when Wilson nailed another penalty.

Swansea’s forwards seemed as though they were going to inflict more pain when flanker Jack Perkins made a dart for the whitewash, only to come up short and then be penalised by the referee.

But the hosts, whose almost unreadable numbers on the backs of their black and amber jerseys made identifying individuals a painful exercise, hit back.

A powerful run by centre Chay Smith got the home side on the front foot, and when O’Brien kicked a penalty to touch on the opposite side of the field there was only going to be one outcome.

A textbook catch and drive, with the help of a few backs, resulted in hooker Henry Palmer breaking off the ruck to score.

O’Brien then slotted a penalty to reduce the deficit to 11-8 and at that stage it seemed as though Newport were in the ascendancy.

However, they shot themselves in the foot just before the break as Swansea second row Jay Williams showed the home defence a clean pair of heels to race over the try line.

Wilson’s successful conversion made it 18-8 to the visitors.

Newport made a better start to the second period than they had the first but all too often they ceded possession in promising positions, and the quality on show from both teams left a lot to be desired at times.

Having spurned a great chance to close the gap after being camped on the visitors’ line, the Black and Ambers finally made their pressure count when the Swansea scrum crumbled five metres out.

The referee awarded a penalty try and O’Brien added the extras.

The fly-half kicked a long-range penalty moments later to level the scores at 18-18, and when the All Whites were penalised for a high tackle, O’Brien put the hosts in front for the first time in the game.

Newport saw out the remainder of the tie to seal victory and they can now relax this weekend when the rest of the first round matches take place.

Newport: L Ap Myrddin (G O’Driscoll 71); J Morris, T Pascoe (Ha Palmer 21), C Smith, W Cunliffe; M O’Brien, O Davies; J Greenfield (J Lavender 47), He Palmer (W Evans 47), G Harris (T Piper 60), R Jones (A Brown 68), D Partridge, R Tucker, K Tayler (C Attwell 55), R Jenkins.

Reps not used: R James

Scorers: Tries – He Palmer, penalty; Con – M O’Brien; Pens – M O’Brien (3)

Swansea: R Williams (J Jones 18); A Claypole, R Evans, D Watts (capt), J Evans; J Wilson (R Garrett 65), R Wells (M Luckwell 71); R Murphy (T Sloane 47), R Guest (A Dunham 71), M Walsh (S Martin 60), G Ronan, J Williams, A Thresher, J Perkins, R Gallagher.

Reps not used: S Martin, C James

Scorers: Tries – R Williams, J Williams; Con – J Wilson; Pens – J Wilson (2)

Referee: Wayne Davies (WRU)

Argus star man: Matt O’Brien (Newport)