Newport booked a place in the Celtic League quarter-finals as a second-half try from Emyr Lewis helped sink Neath at The Gnoll.

Lewis struck in the 71st minute to round off a superb move that had seen play spread from one side of the pitch to the other.

With home wing Shane Williams lying injured, Newport took advantage to move play wide for Lewis to squeeze in at the flag.

The Black and Ambers deserved their win after grinding Neath down.

Shane Howarth rewarded their dominance with 14 points made up of a conversion and four penalties.

Neath went into the game having already secured their spot in the last eight but needing a victory to guarantee home advantage.

They were ahead 8-6 at the break but had spent much of the opening 40 minutes pegged in their own half.

Playing with the wind, Newport kept turning the home side through the boot of Howarth, while their pack stood toe to toe in the rugged forward exchanges.

But it was Neath who scored first when Shaun Connor knocked over a short-range penalty.

Within minutes Howarth had replied with a shot from 30 metres, only for Neath to claim the first try.

Nathan Bonner-Evans drove strongly into the heart of Newport territory, and when the ball was worked wide Allan Bateman combined with Connor twice before crossing.

Newport responded with another Howarth penalty as they upped the tempo to leave Neath struggling to exploit their greater pace behind.

Teams:

Neath: Connor, Tiueti, Bateman, Storey, S. Williams, Horgan, A. Moore, D. Jones, B. Williams, Millward, Slade, Llewellyn, Francis, Bonner-Evans, Sinkinson.

Not Used: Morris, K. James, S. Jones, Martin, Mocelutu, P. Jones, Howells.

Tries: Bateman.

Pens: Connor 2.

Newport: Pini, M. Watkins, Marinos, Pritchard, E. Lewis, Howarth, Tonu'u, Snow, Richards, Garvey, Raiwalui, Voyle, Buxton, A. Powell, Forster.

Not Used: Anthony, C. Jones, Cross, Gravell, Brew, Strange, Burn.

Tries: E. Lewis.

Cons: Howarth.

Pens: Howarth 4.