PUGH RUES DISPLAY AS QUINS SUFFER OPENING-DAY LOSS
NEWPORT head coach Craig Warlow was delighted after his men got their Principality Premiership campaign off to the perfect start with a bonuspoint victory at Carmarthen Park.
With four or even five clubs facing relegation this season, the importance of quickly getting a win under the belt was not lost on either side and Newport showed greater urgency and cohesion in all they did, helped by an outstanding display of running and kicking from fly-half Matt O’Brien.
The Black and Ambers outscored the Quins by four tries to two with man of the match O’Brien ending with a personal haul of 19 points.
“All the pre-season work on defence was the key to this win,” said Warlow.
“The Quins had plenty of ball but we cut them down in midfield with a ruthlessness that will give us huge encouragement for the season ahead.
“The other key to our win was the number of times we forced turnovers in the tackle area and we took our chances well — an excellent start in all respects.
“We had expected a stern test but to come away with a bonus point is more than we could have hoped for.”
The Quins took the lead when No. 8 Lewis Millin picked up at a scrum to burst through tackles for the opening score, with full-back Aled Thomas converting well.
Newport replied in fine fashion with the quick and inventive O’Brien twice racing through for tries, both of which he converted for a 14-7 interval lead.
O’Brien’s run set up another converted try for centre Tom Pascoe before the Quins came back through an untidy corner try by fly-half Jac Wilson. The comeback was short-lived, busy flanker Kyle Tayler getting the bonus-point try before the immaculate O’Brien popped over a late penalty.
Quins captain Haydn Pugh admitted Newport were worthy winners.
He said: “They were too good for us today.
“We failed to cope with their swift rush defence and were slow to react to it.
“Our kicking game will have to improve but the biggest disappointment was the inability to force enough close-range scrums and lineouts.
”The set-piece is a strong part of our game and we scored both our tries from it, but it was never enough.
“We started well enough to take a 7-0 lead but lost too much of our own ball to mount a serious challenge.” QUINS – Tries: L Millin, J Wilson. Con: A Thomas
NEWPORT – Tries: M O’Brien (2), T Pascoe, K Tayler. Cons: M O’Brien (3). Pens: M O’Brien