WHEN a team gets knocked out of a cup competition the old cliché that they will be concentrating on the league from that point on is never far away – but this season it is the opposite for Newport.

They will, of course, be giving their full focus to the seven games that lie in wait for them during the second part of the Principality Premiership season.

But after the Black and Ambers travel to Bargoed tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm) the highest Craig Warlow’s troops can finish in the table is ninth due to the impending split in the league.

That means their real hopes of silverware this term now rest with how they do in the Welsh Cup and Foster’s Challenge Cup.

They host Swansea in the first round of the former on January 25 after entertaining Bedwas in their penultimate group game of the latter competition next Wednesday.

In the league, Newport know they will have at least one big Gwent derby still to play before the end of the season with Cross Keys also failing to make the top eight.

There is also the possibility of another meeting with reigning champions Ebbw Vale if things go awry for the Steelmen tomorrow.

If Ebbw win then it will be Cardiff joining Newport, Keys, Llanelli, Bridgend, Neath, Swansea and Bargoed in the bottom eight.

For the Black and Ambers it was their 23-8 loss to Keys at Pandy Park on Boxing Day that brought an end to their hopes of joining the likes of Merthyr, Aberavon and Bedwas among the elite.

However, Warlow’s men put that off day behind them quickly as they thrashed RGC 1404 41-17 at Rodney Parade on Monday.

Arwel Robson put in another man of the match display in a Newport performance that had former Wales and Lions number-eight Scott Quinnell, who was at the game, purring with delight.

Newport now have a chance to record back-to-back victories tomorrow against a Bargoed outfit that won their previous game at home, a 14-6 Boxing Day defeat of Bridgend.