NEWPORT travelled to Spring Lane having never recorded a win and hosts Malvern expected that record to continue when the two sides met in National Three Midlands, but the visitors secured a 15-11 success.

However, the Shropshire side selected a pack which outweighed and outmuscled the home forwards, denying Malvern a platform and took the game to the home team from the off.

After the opening quarter-of-an-hour of Newport pressure, their efforts were rewarded when they forced a line-out and the huge figure of number eight Fredericks took the ball over for the opening score.

With Malvern looking jaded and a far different side to the one which battled to a draw at South Leicester, Newport continued to press. The hosts lost the ball at their own line-out, the visitors won a scrum and then a penalty, which stand-off Perry converted.

Malvern finally started to raise their game and won a penalty, which Robin Fransson drilled over from 36 metres out.

This was followed by another good Malvern drive and penalty, but that effort went wide just before the half-time whistle.

The second-half began with Newport again on the attack, forcing Malvern to defend deep in their own half for some time. They narrowly failed to score as the ball was knocked-on with a try beckoning.

As Malvern’s defence got sucked in to defend the Newport close drives, the back-line was vulnerable and the away side used this to their advantage, Fredericks again going over to score with Perry converting.

From the re-start, Malvern won a penalty for a high tackle and Fransson cut the deficit to nine points.

This signalled a good period of play for Malvern, as the ball was moved quickly across the line to James Bennett, who kicked ahead and out-stripped his opposite number to score a fine try in the corner. However, Malvern failed to capitalise on this brief period of ascendancy as Newport regained control and some haphazard tackling allowed the visitors to dictate play until the final whistle from impressive referee Clare Hodnett.

It was evident some serious work needs to be done to get Malvern’s season back on track, especially with the visit to all-conquering Rugby Lions on Saturday and a difficult fixture at home to Syston to follow.