NEWPORT put Swansea to the sword in a match dominated by each side’s defence, writes Paul Hopkins.

The All Whites forced a Newport mistake straight from the kick off, but a well worked home scrum earned a turnover.

The visitors collapsed the next scrum, gifting Matt O’Brien an opportunity to kick at goal, which he duly converted.

Jon Morris made a superb break through the middle, finding Geraint Watkin in support, but the Swansea defence was penalised for offside. O’Brien chipped to the corner and Rhys Jenkins powered towards the line but was held up agonisingly short.

The home side grabbed the game’s first try when Morris popped up in midfield to power past a tackle to score under the posts.

Newport continued to swarm over the Swansea defence and it could have got even better but for Andrew Mann dropping the ball over the try line.

Referee Jason Beassant’s patience with the Swansea front row finally snapped and he handed Greg Cunniffe a yellow card. O’Brien kicked to the corner and the home side spread quick ball out wide, but Geraint O’Driscoll’s final pass sailed into touch behind Harri Lang.

Elliot Frewen threatened for the Black and Ambers when he spotted a gap in the Swansea defence, but he lost possession forward metres short of the line.

It took 40 minutes for the All Whites to cross into the Newport twenty-two with Callum Carson making a half break, only for James Davies to hack a loose ball into touch.

The Black and Ambers deservedly grabbed a second try against the run of play when Frewen intercepted a pass and raced 60 metres to score in the corner.

A well worked scrum by the Whites saw Jon Fox find Matthew Aubrey, but the scrum half was brought down on the twenty-two. Outstanding Newport defence secured a turnover though, forcing Fox to hold on after the tackle.

Newport were awarded a kickable penalty following a high tackle but O’Brien opted to chip to the corner. A crooked throw by Henry Palmer brought an end to the attack though.

Swansea’s night ended on a sour note when Matt Dodd saw yellow carded for a professional foul.

Newport: G D’Driscoll; H Lang, J Morris, T Pascoe, E Frewen; M O’Brien, G Watkin; L Smout, M Dwyer, L Jones, A Mann, J Bartlett, M Burgess, K Tayler, R Jenkins.

Reps: H Palmer, D Preece, G Harris, A Brown, H Oliver, A Bidgood, H Simons, R Gardiner

Scorers: Tries: J Morris, E Frewen. Cons: M O’Brien (2). Pens: M O’Brien

Swansea: P Jones; R Griffiths, C Carson, J Evans, B Cambriani; J Davies, M Aubrey; T Sloane, S Howard, G Cunniffe, S O’Rourke, M Dodd, J Williams, C Davies, J Fox

Reps: M Moore, R Davies, J Pritchard, B Asprea, D Eager, C Morgans, S Williams, G Rees

Star Man: Jon Morris (Newport)