FOR Wales fans watching yesterday's crucial rugby World Cup match in Gwent, the old clich rang true - it was a game of two halves.

The first half was all about pride, passion, heart and a seeming endless supply of red-shirted heroes running at an England defence who didn't know what had hit them.

But for Wales, the second half saw it all slip away from them. It was heartbreaking.

More than 500 rugby fans had arrived at Newport's Walkabout bar by 10am yesterday to watch the live quarter-final played in Brisbane.

There was a mood of nervous anticipation, and even when Wales went ahead, thanks to Shane Williams' try, the cheers were enormous but the fans' faith was shaky.

The whole world expected England to win this match, and even these fervent supporters acknowledged that the odds were against them.

But when Jones raced up the field a second time cheers rose to a deafening crescendo as the fans realised Wales could prove the pundits wrong.

Sarah Payne, 22, of Newport, said at half-time: "I don't want to jinx this by saying we can win - I'm just praying inside because it would make my year. I'm so excited I feel sick."

Her friend, Bethan Ford, 22, of Abersychan, said: "We need to start defending now so we can win, but I thought we'd be well down by now."

Karen Silver, 25, an England fan living in Malpas, said: "It's not over until the final whistle, but you can tell that Wales want it more. There's a brilliant atmosphere in here."

But following an enthusiastic rendition of Delilah, the mood of the crowd dipped after the break as England began scoring.

And when the white shirts took the lead, many of those present appeared to be more interested in the brass-bright depths of their beer than the game.

The belief in an upset, so reluctantly won in the first 40 minutes, gradually ebbed away. And while the spirit that had lain dormant erupted again with Iestyn Harris' late conversion, the match ended with the double blow of English victory and Welsh disappointment.

Sarah Payne said: "If we'd played the second half as well as we did the first we would have won. They just lost hope."

But with a final score of 28-17, heads were held high as the fans left the bar. The New Zealand match was no fluke. Three tries to England's one. Welsh pride had been restored.