Tries from Llywarch ap Myrddin, Chay Smith, Rhys Jenkins and Matt O’Brien helped the Black & Ambers to their fourth win from four since the Premiership split. The hosts opened the scoring after just three minutes when fullback Ap Myrddin crossed and Wales Under 20 outside half Arwel Robson added the conversion.
Swansea replied on 15 minutes when fullback Josh Martin kicked a penalty to get the visitors off the mark. Tempers flared and each side slot a player to the sin-bin and it took until the final minutes of the half for the next score as centre Smith raced away for Newport’s second try.
With Swansea down to 14 again after the break after replacement Rhys Williams saw yellow, Newport grabbed their third try when flanker Jenkins forced his way over. Swansea did manage to breach the Newport try-line when hooker Paul John crossed in the final few minutes, Laurance Howley adding the extras from the tee.
But it was Newport who had the final say as O’Brien secured the bonus point with a try on the stroke of time. Robson completed his perfect day with a fourth conversion with the final kick of the match.
Next up for the Black & Ambers is a trip to Bargoed before they host play-off candidates Llanelli, who romped to an eight try, 52-7 home win over Bargoed at the weekend. Teenage wing Tom Rogers was the star of the show as he ran in two tries.
Back row man Jack Condy matched the 18-year-old’s tally to help his side move into third place just two points off the top. Their trip to Rodney Parade will be their final chance to secure a play-off place.
Centre Steff Hughes set the ball rolling for the home side with the first try on 29 minutes and Rogers followed suit a minute later. Condy got his first before the break and the bonus-point score came from full back Kalum Evans on the stroke of half-time.
Outside half Ioan Hughes helped the scoreboard tick over by converting six of the eight tries and at the break Llanelli were 26-0 ahead and in total command. The lead rose to 40 points at the start of the second half when Condy crossed for his second try and wing Tom Williams also got in on the act.
Flanker Lloyd Pike and Rogers added further scores to complete the rout and the only response from Bargoed came in the shape of a consolation try from lock Bryce Morgan than full back James Hallett converted.
Neath were bundled out of the WRU National Cup by Cross Keys, but Gareth Llewellyn’s side took ample revenge with a 59-14 win at The Gnoll that keeps them in the hunt for a play-off place. It was the first time Cross Keys had been beaten since the split and they conceded eight tries.
Wales Under 20 centre Keiran Williams crossed twice and there were further tries from his 17-year-old centre partner, Max Llewellyn, Aaron Grabham, Wales Under 20 scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams, Chris Morgans, Geraint Llewellyn and Ed Howley. Howley also had the distinction of converting all eight scores for a match haul of 21 points.
Lloyd Lewis and Joshua Skinner scored the two tries for Cross Keys but it was all in vain as a second-half capitulation cost them dear in a one-sided affair. Keys have two games left to play, and are one point behind Newport, who they meet at Rodney Parade next month.
Cardiff slipped to a third defeat of the season to Bridgend as they were beaten 33-26 at the Brewery Field. The Blue & Blacks managed to pick up two bonus-points, but it was their fifth successive defeat since the split and they remain anchored to the bottom of the table.
Bridgend, meanwhile, are still in the hunt for a play-off place after their bonus-point victory. They are three points behind the leaders in fourth and have two games left to play at Bargoed and top-four rivals Neath.
Tries from Tom O’Flaherty, Jamie Murphy, Michael Powell, Connor Tantum, Edward Drake saw 14-man Bridgend claim the win after Tom Morgan’s 38th minute dismissal. Cardiff’s consolation tries were scored by Cameron Gibbon, Harri Millard, Will Rees-Hole and Rhys Carre.
A tense opening to the game was brought to an end when O’Flaherty crashed over between the posts to give Bridgend the lead, with Jamie Murphy kicking the first of four conversations. Cardiff hit back through left wing Gibbon, but David Evans put his conversion wide.
The miss would prove costly as quick-fire tries from Drake and Murphy put Bridgend in control before Morgan was sent off just before the break. Cardiff pulled a try back through centre Millard to cut the gap to nine points at the break at 21-12.
Despite being a man down, Bridgend did not let it affect them as Powell added to the rout two minutes into the second-half. Cardiff made their one man advantage count when Rees-Hole hit back soon after with a third try.
The contest was effectively over when Tantum scored Bridgend’s fifth try of the day, before Wales Under 20 prop Carre scored in the last 15 minutes of the game to secure a bonus-point for the visitors.
