Bath's overall performance lost nothing in comparison with anything else they have produced in this difficult campaign, but they came up against the most resolute defence they have seen.

Their ball-retention was superb. You can count on one hand the number of times possession was turned over, and they matched their powerful opponents up front.

However, they were made to pay for three errors in the first half, and Newport built up a near-impregnable lead by the interval.

Bath just about shaded the contest in terms of territory, possession and chances, but the Welsh side were ruthless in exploiting their opportunities

Newport, formerly the slumbering giants of Welsh rugby, have been completely overhauled by a £5million investment over the past two years, and they were roared on by a capacity crowd of 11,432, the biggest since 1963.

Irish wing Matt Mostyn may have been consigned to the international wilderness, but he was the most dangerous attacker on the field.

He blasted through midfield to set up the first try after just six minutes and beat Adedayo Adebayo in a one-on-one situation for the second. On both occasions, Bath were left to rue missed tackles, although their defence was otherwise excellent.

Newport tackled like men possessed, repeatedly knocking back the ball-carrier with ferocious hits.

Bath fought back with their most intense passage of play of the season to date.

They laid siege to the Newport line with phase after phase of attacking play, stretching the home side for five minutes until they finally broke as Gareth Cooper wormed over the line from a five-yard scrum.

That brought Bath back within two points, and they attacked in waves once more.

However, Newport gave no quarter and held firm in the face of the pressure.

They broke the stranglehold with a huge penalty from New Zealand-born fly-half Shane Howarth, whose kicking form had been resurrected in bizarre fashion.

He had skewed one conversion badly wide, and then did the same from the right-hand touchline after Mostyn's try.

However, the referee ruled that Bath had put him off illegally and ordered a retake. Almost inevitably, the second attempt sailed between the posts and Howarth didn't miss another kick all night.

Newport scored again just before the break. The ball squirted untidily out of a ruck on the visitors' 22 and was kicked ahead for Matthew Watkins to put fellow centre Andy Marinos over for the softest of tries.

Bath never gave up and gave the home defence a thorough examination throughout the second half, but the scoreline remained unchanged for 20 minutes until Howarth kicked a penalty.

Bath stormed back and scored a well-worked try through Shaun Berne, but they were unable to capitalise on the sin-binning of Newport captain Gary Teichmann 10 minutes from time.