Kevin Withey back after a 6 month lay-off through a knee op and suspension grabbed a try from a 5 metre line-out five minutes before half-time which gave the Black & Ambers their first semi-final appearence in 6 yrs. After taking a 9 pt lead into the second half, thanks to the Withey try and a penalty goal and conversion from Richard Jones, it was merely all hands to the pump for Newport in defence. Gareth Thomas breached the Newport defence in one of the game?s few flowing moves but thereafter the Newport held firm for the remaining 15 minutes to clinch victory. Kevin Moseley gave one of his finest performances in a Newport jersey and the gamble of playing Withey without a first team outing payed off handsomely.