Newport bowed out at the quarter- final stage losing 18-7 at the Brewery Field. The Newport pack did
enough in the 1st half to turn around with a comfortable lead, but a failure to turn pressure into points
proved costly. Bridgend in contrast made the most of their possession scoring 11 pts in the 2nd half.
Newport dominated the set phases in the first half, but indecisive play by the three-quarters and tight
marking by the Bridgend back division cancelled out a large slice of promising possession. With
chances going begging the game Newport forwards who had vigorously contested every ball lost their
strangle-hold and allowed the Bridgend pack to supply their enterprising three-quarters with a greater
share of the ball. Hooker David Ford repeatedly took the tight-head and Jeff Watkins, Lyn Jones and
John Jeffrey supplied a steady stream of line-out ball but none of Newport?s three-quarters rose to the
occasion. The bustling approach and smother tackling by the Bridgend backs won them the game,
they picked up the smallest opportunity, and capitalised on a shaky Newport defence.
Wing Mike Shore scored from a cross kick after 8 mins but an exchange of penalty goals by Lewis and
Hazzard and a Ffrancon Owen try lost all advantage for Newport. In the 2nd half Bridgend who had
soaked up heavy Newport pressure looked a revitalised side enabling N Lang and Vivian Jenkins to
score from rapier thrusts which cut through the Newport defence. Steve Fenwick drove the final nail
into Newport?s coffin with a late penalty goal.