SOMETHING had to give when fierce Gwent rivals Cross Keys and Newport clashed at Pandy Park in this eagerly-anticipated Boxing Day derby.

Both sides had been in great league form going into this showdown, the hosts having won four of their last five games while the Black and Ambers were victorious in five Premiership encounters on the spin.

It was Keys who emerged triumphant in a fiery match to give their hopes of finishing in the top eight a huge boost.

After a scrappy start, the home side’s outside-half Josh Prosser slotted over a long range penalty after 16 minutes to give Keys a 3-0 lead.

Their advantage didn’t last long as his opposite number Matt O’Brien hit back with one his own.

The visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute with a cracking unconverted try, back rower Rhys Jenkins breaking tackles with a strong run before the ball was off-loaded to wing Elliott Frewen who finished off in style.

A scrum penalty saw Prosser close the gap to 8-6 five minutes before the interval.

Disaster then struck for the city side when then lost their lock Rhodri Jones to the sin bin when he infringed at the breakdown.

Keys took immediate advantage when they were awarded a penalty try from a powerful scrum, Prosser converting to give his team a 13-8 advantage at half-time.

A fantastic run by scrum-half Owain Leonard almost saw the hosts add to their advantage in the opening minutes of the second half.

Under enormous pressure from Keys’ front row of Luke Garrett, Darren Hughes and Leon Brown, Newport soon conceded their second converted penalty try from a scrum five.

There was high drama in the 58th minute when Keys loosehead Garrett was sent off for violent play and visiting blindside Reuben Tucker yellow carded.

Despite being down to 14 men, Keys remained in control and Prosser kicked his third penalty with 13 minutes to go to put them 23-8 up.

The hosts never looked in danger of losing from such a commanding position and they held Newport at bay with relative ease in the closing stages.

Cross Keys: E Davies (J Goodchild 54), M Powell, L Andrews, B Nightingale, N Trowbridge, J Prosser, O Leonard (J Leadbeater 73), L Garrett, D Hughes (capt), L Brown, D Hodge (L Davies 77), S Andrews, T Lampard, R Fitzgerald (L Smout 60), I Jones (J Thomas 73).

Scorers: Tries – Penalty tries (2), Conversions – J Prosser (2), Penalties – Prosser (3)

Newport: G O’Driscoll, J Morris, T Riley, C Smith, E Frewen, M O’Brien (H Palmer 72), O Davies (R James 62), J Lavender (J Greenfield 68), H Palmer (E Whitson 68), G Harris (C Coleman 68), A Brown (capt), R Jones, R Tucker, C Attwell, R Jenkins.

Scorers: Tries – E Frewen, Penalties – M O’Brien.

Referee: Simon Rees (WRU)

Star man: Leon Brown