NEWPORT inflicted only a second home defeat of the season on Pontypridd as they recorded a morale-boosting 17-12 victory at Sardis Road.

Black and Ambers tries came from Matt Dwyer and Andrew Mann in the first half, but it was replacement prop Garin Harris who came up with the game’s crucial score late in the second period.

Matt O’Brien added a conversion for Newport who were deserved winners and took their chances when they came.

Diggy Bird kicked three penalties for Pontypridd and Ben Jones one.

Even two yellow cards in the second half for wing Elliot Frewen couldn’t stop Newport.

Newport failed to claim the Pontypridd kick-off and it allowed the hosts to go straight on the attack.

Bird kicked an early penalty and Newport overthrew one of their own lineouts in a good early position.

The Black and Ambers’ scrum had started positively and after Pontypridd full-back Jones failed to claim a kick, Newport went to the corner and their lineout drove over the line.

Hooker Dwyer was the scorer but the conversion went wide.

Bird immediately responded with his second penalty of the afternoon and it was Pontypridd who dominated the ball as the first quarter saw rain, sun and snow all hit Sardis Road.

Bird’s third kick extended the Pontypridd lead in the 32nd minute before he missed for the first time with a monster effort from just inside his own half.

Newport grabbed their second try on the stroke of half-time.

Pontypridd’s Alex Webber followed Jones in failing to collect a high kick from O’Brien and lock Mann capitalised to score.

O’Brien’s conversion sent Newport to the break 12-9 to the good.

Newport’s second half started in nightmare fashion with Frewen yellow carded by referee Ben Whitehouse for a high tackle.

Bird then had the chance to level the scores, but his penalty attempt was struck all wrong as Frewen returned to the field. His team had kept Pontypridd scoreless in his absence.

Newport’s scrum then won them a crucial penalty on the hour mark, but O’Brien couldn’t kick the goal as only three points stayed between the teams.

Bird’s missed touch summed up the scrappy nature of the game and Newport unloaded their forward replacements in a bid to stay ahead.

Pontypridd were all over the place and their kicking game struggled in what was their first action for five weeks. Their long lay-off showed in their performance.

Newport put the game to bed with the first points of the second half in the 77th minute.

It came from another driving lineout with Pontypridd unable to stop the maul.

Harris was the one to emerge with the try and although Jones kicked a late penalty for Pontypridd and Frewen received his second yellow for a deliberate knock on, Newport were deserved winners.

Pontypridd: B Jones; A Webber, A Knott, D Lockyer (capt), D Stuckey; D Bird, J Raikes; H Owen, N Huish, M Bosanko, J Murphy, C Dicomidis, L Evans, S Parry, K Parker. Reps: R Jenkins, B Stephens, C Hicks, S Moore, K Evans, I Evans, M Richards, T Rowlands.

Scorers: Pontypridd – Pens – D Bird (3), B Jones.

Newport: G O’Driscoll; H Lang, J Morris, T Pascoe, E Frewen; M O’Brien, L Crane; L Smout, M Dwyer, L Jones, A Mann, J Bartlett, R Jones, K Tayler, R Jenkins (capt). Reps: D Preece, J Jeune, G Harris, J Reid, M Burgess, G Watkin, H Simons, R Gardner.

Newport – Tries – M Dwyer, A Mann, G Harris; Con – M O’Brien.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse

Argus star man: Andrew Mann (Newport)