IT wasn’t exactly a Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, but Newport’s emphatic victory at home will be so welcome to head coach Craig Warlow and his men.

They and the Rodney Parade faithful will just be relieved they got back to winning ways and also managed to make sure their Principality Premiership title bid is now firmly on course again.

After a disappointing start to 2016, they put themselves right back in the league mix with a gritty display that paved the way for a convincing success over fellow high flyers Aberavon at Rodney Parade.

It wasn’t a game for the romantics but the home side showed plenty of passion and put in an impressive defensive shift as well as proving to be clinical when they needed to be, outscoring their opponents by three tries to one.

The Wizards had got off to a good start after an electric break by full back Jonathan Phillips in the opening seconds took him from deep in his own half, into the Newport 22, but the visitors were penalised.

The first quarter was marred by a litany of basic errors as both sides struggled to find their rhythm on a dry and sunny, but bitterly cold afternoon.

Aberavon were winning the early territorial battle as they pegged the Black and Ambers back in their own half.

They came close to scoring from a driving lineout but were repulsed just short of the home try-line.

And it was Newport who opened the scoring, completely against the run of play when their excellent openside flanker Rhys Jenkins was in the right place at the right time, like all good No 7s, to pounce on a kick ahead after an Aberavon move broke down.

Fly half Matt O’Brien nailed the tricky touchline conversion to give his side an 8-0 lead after 19 minutes.

The hosts were no doubt delighted that Aberavon were often proving to be their own worst enemies by committing countless errors and seemed intent to run the ball from deep in unpromising situations, thus frequently turning the ball over.

But Newport were also guilty of poor execution when they tried to attack from deep.

And the Wizards equalised in almost comical fashion when an awful offensive move by Newport in their own half allowed wing Morgan Williams to eventually cross under the posts for the softest of self-inflicted tries.

Outside half James Garland’s conversion in front of the posts made it 8-8 after 31 minutes.

Warlow’s side did get their act together and atoned for that poor mistake in the last move before the interval when lock and captain Adam Brown was driven over from a driving lineout.

O’Brien added the extras to make the score 16-8 in his side’s favour at the break.

It was Aberavon who started the half brighter but they again chose to force attacks rather than go through the phases.

When they did, they found the hosts a tough nut to crack with their determined defence.

The more ruthless Newport extended their lead in the 55th minute when they again exploited a rash decision by Aberavon to attack from deep when there was nothing really on, replacement back row forward Brendan Lampitt eventually crossing after his side showed the patience their opponents should have practiced.

Another wonderful conversion from the touchline by O’Brien made it 24-8.

Replacement No 10 Arwel Robson put the Black and Ambers further ahead with just over a quarter of an hour to go.

Aberavon’s problems deepened near the end when replacement forward Rhys Forse was sin binned.

The Talbot Athletic Ground club went in search of a consolation try but all their efforts were in vain, thanks largely to Newport’s excellent cover.

Newport scorers: Tries – R Jenkins 19, A Brown 39, B Lampitt 55, Conversions – M O’Brien 19, 39, 55, Penalty – A Robson 63.

Aberavon scorers: Try – M Williams 31, Conversion – J Garland 31.

Referee: Dewi Phillips (WRU)