Newport's Welsh-Scottish League title hopes suffered a setback on Wednesday as third-placed Neath rolled them over 36-20 at Rodney Parade.

Tries during the final 20 minutes from centre Dave Tieuti, scrum-half Patrick Horgan and hooker Barry Williams condemned Newport to their first home league defeat of the season, silencing a 7,000-strong crowd in the process.

Newport still have a game in hand on leaders Llanelli, and are just two points behind the Scarlets, but they must now pick themselves up quickly for Saturday's testing trip to Swansea.

Neath, for whom Welsh international forward Williams and Brett Sinkinson produced huge performances, pulled away during the final quarter.

Four penalties and a drop goal by fly-half Lee Jarvis kept them in the hunt at 15-15 before they staged a scintillating finish.

Jarvis' 65th-minute kick bounced awkwardly inside Newport's 22, and home wing Matthew Watkins' defensive hesitancy allowed Tongan international Tieuti to grab the ball and dive over.

Just seven minutes later, an irresistible Neath line-out drive scattered Newport's defence in all directions, allowing Horgan to finish off the job.

Although Newport wing Matt Mostyn claimed an injury-time touchdown following Wales' centre Andy Marinos' break, it was too little, too late, and Neath still had the final word.

With Newport supporters drifting disconsolately out of the ground, the home side couldn't cope under the weight of more Neath forward pressure, and it was Williams who administered the final blow.

Jarvis finished with 21 points from a drop goal, four penalties and three conversions as Neath kept alive their championship chances.

The home side led 9-6 at half time, Shane Howarth kicking three penalties before going off injured during the break.

Howarth's replacement Jason Strange added penalties in the 45th and 59th minutes as Newport led 15-12 going into the final quarter, but they were caught completely unawares by Neath's superb finale.

The Welsh All Blacks were also magnificent in defence, where some wonderful tackling kept Newport at bay, and it was on that defensive foundation that their victory was finally achieved.

Jarvis and Howarth exchanged penalties during a lively opening, but the visitors then fell six points adrift after Howarth landed two more strikes before Jarvis reduced the arrears just before the break.

Jarvis and Strange then shared four penalties early in the second half, before another Jarvis goal tied the match at 15-15 with 18 minutes left.

But just when Newport needed to step it up a gear, they found themselves on the back foot and Neath romped away to record one of their finest successes of recent seasons, avenging their defeat in last season's Principality Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.