Head coach Ty Morris praised the Ravens for making life difficult for his men as he saw the Gwent club kicked off their 150th anniversary season with a big bonus point win.
Although it was job done in the end for the Black and Ambers, they didn’t have it all their own way and they found themselves trailing the visitors who scored the first two tries of the match, both unconverted.
However, Newport battled back and by half time had their noses in front 12-10 before going on to score four more tries in the second half to seal the deal.
“We expected Bridgend to come out firing and I’ve got to give them credit. Their defence was outstanding and we found that difficult to break down,” said Morris.
“They had a really good start, and they really did fire into us for 20-30 minutes and the physicality was really high, as we expected from them.
“There was a hell of a wind out there and it was against us in that first half, so going in 12-10 up we were pleased with it. But credit to the boys, in the second half we played the right strategy and did the job.”
It was Scott Baldwin’s rejuvenated Ravens who hit the front after just four minutes with hooker Curtis Greenslade on the end of a maul for the first try of the season, although the conversion was missed by outside half Luke Price.
Bridgend then doubled that advantage as the game approached the 30-minute mark; full-back Edd Howley finishing off after some brilliant defensive work for try number two. The try once again went unconverted but the visitors’ start raised hopes among their travelling contingent of a first win at Newport Stadium.
Newport were on the scoreboard after 36 minutes with the try coming courtesy of hooker Wade Langley to halve their deficit, although the conversion was missed by Matt O’Brien.
Newport would however go into the break with their noses in front thanks to their second try just before the break scored by outside centre Chay Foster-Smith, which this time O’Brien did convert, to edge them 12-10 in front.
After the re-start the home side began to pull away and a try double from tighthead prop Oli Drake secured their first bonus point. Replacements Henry Palmer and Rynard Landman also crashed over, both converted by O’Brien, who also added the extras to Drake’s second try.
Bridgend, to their immense credit, kept going and a second try from Howley and a breakaway score from Macaulay Rowley in the latter stages ensured they would leave with a bonus point.
Price converted the Rowley try before O’Brien sent over a late penalty for Newport. The margin of victory saw Newport become the first side to earn the extra bonus point on offer if teams win by 15 points or more.
Scorers: Newport: Tries: O Drake (2), W Langley, C Foster-Smith, H Palmer, R Landman: Cons: M O’Brien (4); Pen: M O’Brien. Bridgend: Tries: C Greenslade, E Howley (2); M Rowley; Con: L Price
