Merthyr………………..24 Newport……………….40
Newport eased to their fourth-straight win in the league with a dominant display against Merthyr.
Oli Andrew scored a hat-trick as the Black and Ambers continued their march towards the top of the table. The visitors turned on the style early on with a brutal try from Lennon Greggains, and Andrew then added a second try when he gracefully received a cross-field kick.
Newport found themselves 19-0 up after just 21 minutes when winger Jon Morris collected a Harri Ackerman kick to score in the corner.
Merthyr hit back with a try of their own, but the Ironmen's Paddy McBride then saw yellow, for a dangerous tackle.
And Newport soon took advantage, as Andrew bagged his second try of the afternoon. Geraint O'Driscoll added a difficult conversion to send Newport 26-7 up at half-time.
Merthyr grabbed the crucial first score of the second half, through a sniping run from James Soanes, but Newport soon regained their composure as they earned themselves a penalty try.
Andrew finished off his hat-trick with a superb effort out wide, while Merthyr replied with two late tries through Soanes and McBride for a losing bonus point.
Star man
Oli Andrews -Newport
