NEWPORT ended Ebbw Vale's qualification hopes in the Foster's Challenge Cup with a 40-6 victory at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Black and Ambers management team were looking for a strong performance after disappointing defeats to Bedwas at Bridge Field in both the development competition (46-0) and the Principality Premiership (42-28).

They certainly got that with Newport, who were drubbed 48-6 in the Challenge Cup at Eugene Cross Park, getting off the mark in Pool Three at the third attempt by running in five tries against the Steelmen.

The hosts led 16-0 at the break thanks to scores by scrum-half Aeron Bidgood and full-back Llywarch Ap Myrddin and they had the five points secured before the hour thanks to tries by wing Wes Cunliffe against his old side and lock Dan Mock, who was on permit from Newbridge.

Wing Jon Morris went over for a fifth score before Ebbw, who travel to Newcastle Emlyn in round two of the Swalec Cup on Saturday and continued their development approach to the tournament with a number of players featuring on permit from neighbouring clubs, had the final say through Tom Ashmead.

The Steelmen have now played all of their fixtures in the Challenge Cup and will finish beneath Gwent group leaders Bedwas while their final tally of 12 points is bettered by Cardiff in the tussle for the best runner-up spot in the semi-finals.

Newport need to go through the rest of the pool stages without defeat if they are to make the last four with fixtures remaining at Cross Keys next Tuesday (kick-off 7.15pm), against Bedwas in Ystrad Mynach on Wednesday, February 17 (kick-off 7.30pm) and against Cross Keys at Rodney Parade on Tuesday, March 1 (kick-off 7.15pm).

Bedwas look likely to progress given that they don't have the distraction of a push for the Premiership playoffs with their potentially key date with Keys at Pandy Park yet to be rearranged following the January postponement because of a waterlogged pitch. The semi-finals will be played on the weekend of April 19.

Pool Three standings: Bedwas P4 16pts, Ebbw Vale P6 12pts, Cross Keys P3 6pts, Newport P3 5pts