We made an average side look good – that was the stark assessment from Newport team manager Gareth Davies after their shock defeat to Burton.

The men from Forton Road went down 23-16 away at the Staffordshire side in their second game of the National League Three Midlands campaign.

And Davies was not pulling any punches as he assessed a below-par display from the Shropshire side against newly-promoted Burton.

“We will have to perform 10 times better than that to get a result away from home in this league,” said Davies.

“Our performance surprised us all. I could be really harsh and say we made an average side look good.”

“We had plenty of opportunities to put them away, particularly at the end of the first half.

“We had plenty of territory and plenty of possession. We got close to the line on several occasions and didn’t take our chances.

“In the last 20 minutes they played some good stuff and we gave away too many points,” he added.

An impressive Adrian Gillespie try had put Newport in front and Jamie Simpson increased their lead with two well-taken penalties.

Crashed

Newport still seemed on course for victory in the second half when Toby Mann shot through the line and showed good feet to see off the full-back for another try.

At that stage the Shropshire side were 16-10 up, but Burton added a converted try and two penalties to pinch the points.

Meanwhile, Hereford crashed to their second defeat of the season as they were pipped 25-22 by Peterborough at Wyeside.

Skipper Gareth Miles and his team mates had hoped to bounce back from their defeat at Newport but were beaten to the post when Peterborough ran out winners by three points.

The visitors led 22-8 at half time but Hereford fought back before Mike Hogan kicked another penalty to clinch Peterborough’s victory in a nailbiting finish.

Hereford’s latest setback leaves them third from bottom in the division with only one point from their opening two games.

By CHRIS HUDSON