RELEGATION-threatened Newport are desperate to rapidly halt an alarming run of five league defeats out of six as they face a tough trip to Llandovery.

And the Black and Ambers will be hoping to exorcise the demons from their last game a month ago – something of a horror show.

The advent of the British and Irish Cup has meant serious disruption to the Principality Premiership programme with the Rodney Parade outfit forced to sit out the last four weeks.

Their previous encounter was on November 22, and it is one they are in a hurry to forget.

It was a 23-18 home defeat to 14-man Neath, a numbing setback to fellow strugglers which saw the hosts embroiled once again in an unwelcome dogfight for their top-flight status.

Fortunately for Newport, at least for the time being, Bargoed, who cannot be promoted because they fail to meet stringent Welsh Rugby Union criteria regulations, are doing them a huge favour by topping the Swalec Championship by ten points from their nearest rivals Swansea after winning 11 games from 11.

But they can’t rely entirely on the pretenders from the Rhymney Valley and Newport’s up-and-coming captain Ollie Griffiths says the Black and Ambers are raring to go away against Llandovery this weekend.

Although his men haven’t been in action of late, the teenage flanker has been putting in some fine displays for Cross Keys in their ill-fated British and Irish Cup campaign.

The 6ft 1in and 14st 13lb Griffiths and a number of young Newport Gwent Dragons players have been turning out for the Pandy Park side over the last month.

The 19-year-old, who has made four appearances for the region, knows Newport need to start putting some distance between themselves and bottom Premiership club Aberavon who are five points behind them but with a game in hand.

“That Neath defeat was a massive disappointment for us – it is something that all the boys are fully aware of,” Griffiths said.

“They have been working hard over the last couple of weeks in training, both with their fitness and on the rugby front, to put things right.

“They are fresh after their break and raring to go. Llandovery is a tough place to go and there’s a difficult challenge ahead for us, but we are determined to turn things around.”

Griffiths, who played as blindside flanker for Newport’s fierce Gwent rivals Keys in the British and Irish Cup, instead of his customary openside position, said of the experience: “I have to admit it was a little strange to play for Keys as captain of Newport!

“But I was made very welcome by them. It was a great experience to play in the British and Irish Cup, and good to play with my mates from the Dragons, despite suffering some defeats.”