NEWPORT continued their recent excellent form with victory over Neath in a thrilling Principality Premiership encounter at Rodney Parade, writes Jay Bayford.

The Black and Ambers ran in seven tries in a superb attacking display but struggling Neath showed plenty going forward too and they crashed over six times themselves.

It was a fast start from both sides with Morgan Burgess cancelling out Reuben Morgan-Williams' try inside four minutes. Matt O’Brien and Ed Howley applied the conversions.

Neath looked dangerous and almost went back ahead with Alec Jenkins free on the wing but Alex Everett came thundering in to deny him at the last possible moment.

And Newport went straight up the other end to score with Elliot Frewen tricking his way past Howley to go over, O’Brien again added the conversion.

But just like Newport had done, Neath hit straight back with Morgan-Williams the man on the scoresheet once again.

The hosts looked rattled but responded well with two tries in four minutes.

First Adam Sabri touched down after brilliant play by Frewen and he was followed over by Jon Morris, who crashed over in the corner. O’Brien added a further two points.

But Neath refused to give up and pulled themselves back into it when Ryan Bean was given a simple try after Jenkins played him into space.

However, the Black and Ambers had the last word of the half when Owen Davies forced the ball over the whitewash and O’Brien booted the conversion.

Howley got Neath up and running early in the second half with a converted try but touch downs from Garin Harris and Everett, along with five points from O’Brien, kept the hosts in control.

Late tries from Keiran Williams and Iwan Evans, and a Howley conversion, kept Neath in touching distance but Newport saw out the victory.

Newport: Tries: M Burgess, E Frewen, A Sabri, J Morris, O Davies, G Harris, A Everett; Cons: M O’Brien (5); Pen: M O’Brien.

Neath: Tries: R Morgan-Williams (2), R Bean, E Howley, K Williams, I Evans; Cons: E Howley (3).