Newport slip the leash to parade club spirit

Newport 16 London Irish 1

They have been chanting the song "Who Let The Dogs Out?" down in Newport for a few years now, but if the Welsh Rugby Union's plans to replace club sides in Wales with provincial set-ups go ahead it will let slip the dogs of war. If the Black and Ambers' on-field defence is anything to go by, the WRU is in for a long and unsuccessful siege in any attempt to create a Gwent United.

Certainly, Newport gave emphatic evidence at Rodney Parade that they will not accept extinction quietly. The hosts, who had been virtually written off in the Heineken Cup, hounded and harried, muscled, hustled and tussled for the ball, territory and, ultimately, victory as they provided their supporters with the first bright spot in an otherwise miserable season.

London Irish have not been enjoying life in the Zurich Premiership either, but Europe had offered a little compensation, until Newport reigned over them at Rodney Parade.

It was a classic Anglo-Welsh encounter, a ferocious, physical match that fizzed with excitement and tension, even if the attractive rugby was severely rationed. The home side tackled themselves into the ground yet still had the spirit and energy to surge upfield at the last, as if to show the Exiles that there was life in the old dogs yet, and long before the end the jubilant home fans among a 6,435 crowd were chanting their medley of victory anthems.

When their flanker, Jason Forster, was forced over from a catch-and-drive line-out early in the second half, Newport looked to be giving their rivals the slip, but Irish had a chance to pull their way back to within a point after they were awarded a penalty. But they eschewed the kick, opting instead for the line-out and, as Conor O'Shea, their director of rugby, admitted later: "That was a mistake. We have not scored from a driven line-out all season."

For Newport, victory was not the only good news. Jason Jones-Hughes, their Australian-born centre who won the last of his three Wales caps two years ago, continued his trouble-free return from injury. Since that last game against France in 2000 he has undergone extensive reconstructive surgery to his right knee and this was only his second game back after that two-year lay-off. He looked fit and strong and, with fellow midfielder Andy Marinos, kept a clean sheet as the pair of them ran up a high tackle count to help stop Irish in their tracks.

Newport: S Howarth; M Mostyn, J Jones-Hughes, A Marinos, H Luscombe; J Strange, O Tonu'u; R Snow, J Richards (P Young, 50), A Garvey (C Anthony, 40), S Raiwalui (capt), I Gough, S Ojomoh, G Gravell, J Forster.

London Irish: M Horak; P Sackey, N Burrows, B Venter, J Bishop; B Everitt, D Edwards (K Barrett, 62); M Worsley (N Hatley, 49), N Drotske (A Flavin, 65), R Hardwick (S Halford, 48), R Strudwick (capt), G Delaney, P Gustard (A Flavin, 47-54), C Sheasby, D Danaher (K Dawson, 62).

Referee: J Dumé (France).