NEWPORT'S hopes of winning their first Welsh-Scottish League title took a huge blow as they slumped to a first home 36-20 defeat in the competition this season last night.

Not since the Glasgow game near the end of last season have Newport been so ineffective at Rodney Parade.

Though they are the leading try scorers in the league, they looked like being tryless last night until Matt Mostyn finally crossed in the final minute of normal time.

But, even then, Neath hit back for their third touchdown of the evening. Not for the first time in big games this season, Newport failed to make heavy pressure count as they let the opposition off the hook.

They lost the game in the very period when they were most dominant, a carbon copy of the Leinster Heineken Cup clash in particular.

Newport were virtually camped on the Neath line for a 15-minute spell at the start of the second half.

But they persisted in going for route one straight down the middle, one player after another trying to batter a path to the line.

Yet Neath's defence stood up and every time a Newport player went for the line, he was either held up or knocked backwards.

Once Newport did try throwing the ball around but replacement Jason Strange's swift pass out to Matt Mostyn was met by a try-saving tackle from rarely-used wing Dean Dewdney.

Neath's defence was superb and, sure enough, once Newport failed to crack it, the visitors broke out to score a crucial try.

Cruelly, it came from a defensive mistake as well because there appeared little danger as Lee Jarvis kicked on. However, Matthew Watkins fumbled and David Tiueti pounced on the ball.

There was no way back for Newport then and scrum-half Patrick Horgan soon got another as he rolled off the back of a Neath charge.

Two Jarvis conversions to add to an earlier penalty made it 17 points in 10 minutes for Neath, and the most decisive spell of the match.

Neath had begun as though they meant business, full of their usual commitment as they sought revenge for last season's cup final defeat and a home setback in the league last September.

There was never much in it during the first-half, dominated by penalties as Shane Howarth kicked three for Newport and Jarvis replied with two.

Strange, on for the injured Howarth, kicked one long-range effort and another easier one, but Jarvis matched it with his third penalty and a well-executed drop-goal out of nothing. Newport just couldn't shake free, though, ironically, their best spell came when they were down to 14 men after hooker James Richards was yellow-carded for interfering with play. But not only did Newport become too one-dimensional as their normal free-flowing style deserted them, they also failed to win crucial line-out ball.

With Swansea at St Helens, Cardiff at home and Glasgow away being their next three games, together with their growing injury problems, the league title looks a tall order now. Newport: M Pini, M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, M Watkins (B Breeze 68 mins), S Howarth (J Strange 40), O Tonu'u, R Snow, J Richards (P Young 68), A Garvey (C Anthony 68), S Raiwalui (captain), I Gough, P Buxton, A Powell, J Forster. Scorers -- try: M Mostyn; penalties: S Howarth (3), J Strange (2).

Neath: G Morris (S Connor 79), K James, D Tiueti (J Storey 80), A Bateman, D Dewdney, L Jarvis, P Horgan, D Jones (P James 81), B Williams, A Jones (A Millward 59), S Martin, G Llewellyn (captain), A Mocelutu, R Phillips, B Sinkinson. Scorers -- tries: D Tiueti, P Horgan, B Williams; conversions: L Jarvis (3); penalties: Jarvis (4); dropped goal: Jarvis.

*PICTURED: Newport skipper Somon Raiwalui (left) and Peter Buxton get stuck into Neath's No 8 Rowland Phillips.