MARCH

IT was March madness for Newport County AFC.

It wouldn’t prove a turning point, but March began with Newport earning an important and unexpected point, Chris Zebroski’s late leveller earning them parity with Scunthorpe, who were in the midst of an incredible 28-game unbeaten run.

However, the participants in the London Marathon had a less arduous time than the Exiles this spring, County in action an unbelievable NINE times during a frantic month in which they failed to record a single home victory despite having four cracks at it.

Indeed, of the their nine games, Newport would only beat 10-man Torquay away from home, a result that helped to steer them clear of the murky waters and the relegation battle.

However, draws with Fleetwood, Exeter and Bury were offset by defeats to Mansfield, Morecambe, Dagenham and Portsmouth as the Exiles ensured their Football League safety wouldn’t be confirmed until April.

As late as March 21, manager Justin Edinburgh was telling the Argus County were in a relegation dogfight and he moved to address their lack of form, drafting in temporary signings Kevin Feely and Darcy Blake.

The arrival of Blake caught the attention throughout Wales with the ex-Bluebird a key component of the Welsh success under the late Gary Speed.

If things were bad for County, that was equally true of the Newport Gwent Dragons who also failed to register a victory.

Admittedly they only played twice, but a defeat to Connacht and a draw with Zebre did little to lift flagging spirits, especially as it was the month in which Adam Jones was forced to retire aged 34.

There was an equally wobbly end to the Six Nations campaign for Wales as they lost 29-18 to England in their penultimate clash to effectively extinguish all hopes of winning the title, a crushing and record 51-3 win over Italy ending the campaign on a high even if it would be Irish eyes smiling.

There was better news for Wales in the football as a Gareth Bale inspired performance helped them to a 3-1 victory over an emerging Iceland side as the Dragons produced their best performance under Chris Coleman’s management.

However, a split from a manager dominated the Argus Sport pages at the end of March when news emerged that Nathan Cleverly had left long-time promoter Frank Warren.

Cleverly was unveiled as a Matchroom boxer at a press conference in Cardiff that also confirmed that Newbridge boxer Gavin Rees has one more in him, his rematch was set for a chance at redemption against Gary Buckland.

APRIL

The Newport Gwent Dragons made strengthening for the following campaign their priority with some key signing made in April.

Both Ian Gough and South African Ryan Landman were confirmed for the following season but on the field things didn’t improve, three games and three defeats to Edinburgh, Treviso and Ospreys, the latter in the Millennium Magic weekend that proved to be anything but magical for the region who also confirmed Steffen Jones’ departure to Bedford.

The Dragons did at least end April with some good news, Ashley Smith and Tom Prydie the latest duo to commit to long-term contracts at Rodney Parade.

It was however, a significant month for two Gwent club sides, Ebbw Vale and Cross Keys.

After a four-year absence from the Premiership, Vale confirmed their return by beating Beddau 50-7, yet another victory in a campaign that saw the Steelmen remain undefeated.

It was the fourth year in a row that the club won the Swalec Championship but they were always scuppered by their ground failing to meet the relevant criteria, a situation thankfully resolved in 2014.

Keys were also enjoying a fine time, their narrow 10-9 derby win over Newport RFC keeping them on course to win compete in both the Principality play-offs and the Swalec Cup Final.

The month of April was a lot better for Newport County AFC who confirmed they wouldn’t be one season wonders in the Football League as two draws and a win from five games gave them breathing space from the League Two relegation issue, a win over Wycombe especially giving them the confidence to begin planning for next season and being noteworthy for a real collectors’ item, Christian Jolley’s first goal since the previous August.

Manager Justin Edinburgh did begin planning for a second term in League Two, admitting for the first time that he was considering a U-turn on his decision to allow Mike Flynn to leave the club.

However, eight days before the end of the campaign, the Exiles announced officially that they were releasing club captain David Pipe.

The popular right back joined Forest Green Rovers.

On the international scene, the FAW, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly, confirmed their intention for Cardiff to be entered as a potential host city for the 2020 European Championships, which is to be spread across Europe. FAW chiefs spoke confidently about staging games.

There was also good news for Wales’ two star men on the international scene, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

Bale’s Real Madrid qualified for the final of the Champions League by destroying champions Bayern Munich and Ramsey’s Arsenal booked a place in the final of the FA Cup with a fortuitous win over Wigan on penalties in the semi final.

In boxing, Cwmbran's Gary Lockett saw him fighter Enzo Maccarinelli lose in Germany to Jurgen Braehmer as he failed in an ambitious bid to become a two-weight world champion after suffering a nasty cut.