FLANKER Craig Attwell was at the double as Newport kicked off their Principality Premiership tier two campaign with a bonus-point victory over Bridgend at the Brewery Field, writes Carl Field.

The win also saw the Black and Ambers avenge a home defeat by Bridgend in the league’s first phase and, with four of their remaining six games at Rodney Parade, it also sets Craig Warlow’s side up nicely for a serious tilt at the second tier crown.

After a period of sustained early pressure and a succession of penalties, they eventually went ahead on 15 minutes after they were awarded a penalty try, with fly-half Matt O’Brien taking care of the extras.

The Newport pressure continued and they soon got their second try when Attwell pounced from the back of a maul to score, although this time O’Brien was wide with the conversion attempt.

A lacklustre Bridgend side were struggling to get out of their own half and it was no surprise when Newport scored a third try on 32 minutes when, after a Ravens defensive mistake, centre Hadyn Palmer raced on to a loose ball to go over in the right corner, although O’Brien missed the touchline conversion attempt.

The visitors took a 17-0 lead into the break but lost hooker Will Evans to the sin-bin before prior to half time as the contest threatened to boil over.

The hosts failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage early in the second half and then went a man down themselves as hooker Iestyn Merriman was yellow carded.

To their credit, Bridgend responded on 61 minutes to hand themselves a lifeline with a try from centre Jamie Murphy, converted by fly-half Joe Scrivens but, moments later, Newport were straight back up the other end, with Attwell darting home for his second try, which went unconverted.

Replacement scrum-half Chris Williams scored a late converted try in consolation for the Ravens, before O’Brien’s penalty wrapped things up for the visitors.

With next weekend’s scheduled clash at Bargoed now having been moved to April 22, Newport are not back in league action until February 25 when they host Cardiff.

Warlow’s side go to Pontypridd in round two of the WRU National Cup seven days prior to that.

Bridgend: D Howells (G Lougher 72); M Edwards, J Gatt (R Evans 71), J Murphy, M Powell; J Scrivens, W Baird (C Williams 68); O Evans (C Lewis 46), I Merriman, K Jenkins (G Daniel 46), O Lloyd, J Kenny, T Morgan (J Howard 71), G Beer (H Wilkes F-R 58) (M John 68), A O’Driscoll (capt).

Scorers – Tries: J Murphy, C Williams; Cons: J Scrivens, J Murphy

Newport: G O’Driscoll (L Ap Myrddin 68); W Cunliffe, T Pascoe, Hadyn Palmer, J Morris; M O’Brien, O Davies (R Bates 68); J Lavender (T Piper 62), W Evans, G Harris (Henry Palmer 53), A Brown (capt) (D Mock 53), D Partridge, R Tucker (J Greenfield F-R 39-49) (K Tayler 65), C Attwell, R Jenkins.

Scorers – Tries: Pen try, C Attwell (2), Hadyn Palmer; Con: M O’Brien; Pen: M O’Brien

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

Argus star man: Craig Attwell (Newport)