THE half-time song choice of ‘Lazy Sunday’ by Small Faces was apt for Newport as Bedwas deservedly emerged with the Principality Premiership derby spoils at Rodney Parade.

The men from Bridge Field took the honours after scoring two tries to none, despite being shown three yellow cards.

After being beaten by Pontypridd on opening weekend, the 20-12 victory was the perfect response for Bedwas.

But the Black and Ambers, edged out at Cardiff in their opener, will be nervously looking at the table despite just two rounds being gone given that the league splits into two in January.

They had a hugely encouraging 2015/16 in which they played some enterprising rugby but they were sluggish throughout against Bedwas, who were more than good value for the four points.

Newport will need to find their mojo when they travel to champions Ebbw Vale on Saturday.

It was the visitors that struck first after putting the squeeze on at the set piece, first stealing a lineout and then winning a penalty from a scrum.

Rather than settle for three points Dragons flanker James Benjamin, playing with 8 on his back, took a quick tap before putting fellow back row forward George Lee over for a 10th-minute score.

Captain and fly-half Richard Powell converted and then missed with a long-range penalty as Bedwas bossed matters.

The Black and Ambers settled thanks to a scrum penalty of their own that fly-half Arwel Robson knocked over after 19 minutes.

Bedwas turned down the chance to respond in kind by going to the corner for a driving lineout and then for a five-metre scrum only for the hosts to hold firm, the men from Bridge Field further frustrated when loosehead Dan Preece was yellow-carded after referee Gareth Newman grew tired of scrummaging offences.

Nonetheless, the 14 men stretched away to 10-3 through the right boot of Powell on 35 minutes and they were undeniably good value for their lead.

With Benjamin performing as brightly as his garish orange Puma boots, Bedwas made light of their numerical disadvantage to keep pressing approaching half-time.

It took some desperate Newport defence to repel some lusty charges towards the line before a much-needed turnover enabled the Black and Ambers to finally go on the attack entering injury time.

Powell was yellow-carded for a high tackle – paying the price for missing touch with a penalty seconds earlier – and with the final act of the half Robson made it 10-6.

Bedwas centre James Dixon missed an early chance to regain a seven-point buffer after the resumption and the visitors were then pinged for accidental offside as they rumbled forward with a driving lineout.

Newport weren’t playing like they were a man up but cut the gap to a point through the right boot of Robson with half an hour left, the fly-half making no mistake despite having to rush his effort after a delay in getting his tee on the field.

And the Black and Ambers were in front for the first time approaching the hour when Robson followed a fine jinking run into the 22 by bisecting the posts with a penalty to make it 12-10.

The prolific Powell missed a chance to wrestle the lead back as the game remained nip and tuck entering the final quarter but made no mistake when swiftly offered another chance from the same spot on 64 minutes to make it 13-12.

They key moment then came when Robson smacked a penalty against the woodwork and a breathless period of play ended with Bedwas lock Robson Blake hammering his way over the line.

Powell converted to make it 20-12 with five minutes left and Newport’s decision to go for the corner in the closing stages back-fired when they botched their lineout, meaning it was a pointless Sunday for them at Rodney Parade.

Newport: G O’Driscoll (M O’Brien 67), A Hewitt (C Smith 40), T Riley (captain), T Pascoe, E Frewen, A Robson, O Davies (L Jones 75), J Lavender (K Bale 63), H Palmer (M Prosser 75), G Harris (T Piper 75), R Jones, D Partridge (A Brown 50), C Attwell (B Lampitt 67), K Tayler, R Tucker.

Scorers: penalties – A Robson (4)

Bedwas: A Bramwell, T Prydie (P Parivo 40), C Edwards, J S Dixon (A Williams 66), P Lewis, R Powell (captain), N Griffiths (L Crane 66), D Preece (B Toms 63), A Rees, M Pettit, R Blake, J Davies (R Verley 66), A Waite, G Lee (J Richards 60), J Benjamin.

Scorers: tries – G Lee, R Blake; conversions – R Powell (2); penalties – R Powell (2)

Yellow cards: D Preece, R Powell, R Verley

Referee: Gareth Newman (WRU)

Argus star man: James Benjamin