Newport’s troubled first half to their National Three Midlands Three season suffered a fresh low as they were thumped 79-13 at Luton.

The defeat continues to leave the Forton Road men precariously placed just one position off the foot of the table.

Newport trailed only 30-13 at the interval, with Tomasi Tanumi scoring all the points with a try, conversion and two penalties.

But the second half proved something of a horror story for the visitors as Luton ran in 49 unanswered points.

“Saturday was a really disappointing day but the lads are still upbeat over our chances,” said press officer Simon Holland.

“We had 17 players in total out injured on Saturday and four or five of those had been regulars this season but missed the weekend so there is a lot to come back into the squad.”

Marching

Luctonians fought back to beat bottom of the table Bedford Athletic 22-10 after their flanker Ben James was sent off early in the second half.

Bedford were leading 7-0 when James was given his marching orders for a second yellow card offence but the Luctonians’ remaining 14 players rallied to score their fifth league win of the season.

James was dismissed for a second yellow card and Bedford went 10-0 ahead shortly after.

But two tries from Nick Byron, and one from centre Leon Mells, as well as a penalty and two conversions from Will Hodnet saw Lucs home.

Hereford have moved up into sixth place in the table with a 31-23 win over Kettering.

Shaun Day scored three of Hereford’s five tries with Alex Kelso and Richard Rees claiming the other two. Colin Osbourne converted three of the five tries.