With 10 or more players out, Newport took to the field under acting captain Craig Attwell with full-back Geraint O’Driscoll switching to 13 and Iain Smerdon on permit from Bedwas at 12. Further late changes brought in Craig Everett at No. 8 in place of Ieuan Jones and scrum-half Andrew Quick joining the bench alongside Jamie Leadbeater.
With a long injury list, hopes perhaps weren’t high for Newport against a Quins side who had started the season well and were also bolstered by a number of regional players. The Black and Ambers were also still recovering from the desperate injury time defeat to Bedwas on Wednesday but secured the win against the odds with a superb solo try in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
With Quins looking to close out the game, Newport wing Elliot Frewen intercepted a pass and set off for the Quins line some 90 metres away. Stepping around the covering Quins defence, Frewen touched down in the corner for his fifth try of the season to secure a famous win. The conversion by O’Driscoll was missed but Newport led 28-25 and they held out for the bonus point win and made it 12 league wins from 13 against the Quins.
Earlier in the day, it was Quins who got the first try of the day when former Newport man James Dixon slipped a tackle and forced his way over. Newport’s good tactical kicking – especially from Scott Sneddon – helped them gain valuable territory which led to Sneddon extending his side’s lead with a penalty.
Hooker Ryan Prosser then scampered over in the corner to get Newport back in the game but the score remained at 5-8 until further penalties from Sneddon and Aled Thomas saw the sides go into half-time with the visitors leading 11-8.
Quins started the second period the better with Thomas kicking an early penalty before some loose passing by Quins allowed dangerous wing Frewen to pick up and score in the corner. The missed conversion put the score at 11-16.
Wing Tom Rees and Andrew Banfield then combined for the latter to get Quins back in the game. Aled Thomas converted and he then slipped through to feed replacement Chris Banfield for a try. Thomas again converted and in the space of just four minutes, the score had gone from 11-16 to 25-16 to the home side going into the last quarter.
Quins lock Haydn Pugh was then sin-binned for a late tackle but the Quins still seemed to be in control. Then, somewhat against the run of play Newport wing Will Hodnett made a nice break and fed an inside pass to No 8 Craig Everett who cantered under the posts for O’Driscoll to add the extras.
Then in the 84th minute, man of the match Frewen intercepted and ran all of 90 metres to secure Newport’s win as lady luck shone on the visitors.
