CROSS KEYS secured themselves a place in the Tier Two play-offs with victory over Gwent rivals Newport on a mild evening at a sandy-looking Rodney Parade, writes Jay Bayford.

Leon Andrews, Darren Hughes, Nathan Trowbridge and Ieuan Jones all crashed over to give Keys a bonus-point victory, which guaranteed them a place in the top four.

Keys made a dream start as they took the lead inside 30 seconds. Jones caught a routine Newport clearance but there was nothing routine with what Andrews did with the resulting pass.

The full-back, starting in his own half, went on a long, mazy run, including through a huge group of players, to touch down and stun the home crowd. Josh Prosser missed the conversion but Keys had the lead.

The Black and Ambers struggled to get past a stubborn Cross Keys defence but they remained patient and eventually found a way through with Cardiff Met’s James Little, who was making his first Newport start, crashing over. Matt O’Brien edged the hosts into the lead with the conversion before kicking a penalty minutes later.

But Keys were threatening in attack and soon took back the lead. Jones and Andrews combined again to get close to the Newport try line and a couple of passes later, Hughes found enough space to force the ball over the whitewash. This time Prosser was on target with the conversion.

The try didn’t seem to knock Newport off their game as they continued to enjoy plenty of the ball but they were caught cold when Trowbridge intercepted a pass and ran clean through to extend Keys’ lead. Jon Morris showed incredible pace as he chased him back but Trowbridge did enough to touch down. Prosser added the conversion.

The hosts were given a way back into the game when Phil Williams was sent to the sin-bin before tempers flared up between Danny Hodge and Adam Brown but, despite their numerical disadvantage, it was Keys who added to their score with a Prosser penalty before the fly-half added the conversion to Jones’ try.

Little added a late second for Newport, before Dan Mock crashed over, but Keys held on for victory.

Newport: Tries – J Little (2), D Mock; Cons – M O’Brien (2); Pens – M O’Brien.

Cross Keys: Tries – L Andrews, D Hughes, N Trowbridge, I Jones; Cons – J Prosser (3); Pens – J Prosser.