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Further blowas ace striker O’Connor goes under knife


Wizards reign on Rodney Parade


AHERCULEANeffort into the


windwas not enough forNewport afterAberavonemerged with the spoils froma lottery at a wet, windy and cold Rodney Parade. The Black andAmbers were hop-


ing to ease fears of being dragged into a Premiership rele- gation dog-fight by beating the struggling Wizards. They led 6-0 but theirmanful,


spirited efforts were in vain after Aberavon edged 8-6 in front after 48 minutes. Their ball-carrying with freezing


rain blowing into their faces – especially by number eight Brendan Lampitt – probably deservedmore than a losing bonus point, but that’s all they got. Six weeks of planning on the


training paddock counted for little on such a night: itwas a case of the teamwith the wind booting the ball downfield and the side play- ing into the gale attempting to keep the error count lowwhile pinned back near the North Terrace. ItwasNewport that enjoyed use


of the conditions first and they enjoyed a 6-0 lead at the break. Aberavonmade the only clear


line break through impressive on- loan Cornish Pirates centre Rheon James, but that came to nothing and they were punished by a pair of penalties by Geraint O’Driscoll. TheNewport full-back did fail


HERNIA OP: County striker Aaron O’Connor


Exiles’ top scorer last season and added the second goal in the play- off final victory over Wrexham at Wembley. But a groin injury has ruled him out for the whole League Two campaign so far and the latest setback will keep him out for an estimated four to six weeks. O’Connor posted a picture from


his hospital bed on Twitter with the message: “op went well, hopefully the last.”


NEWPORT County AFC striker Aaron O’Connor’s injury nightmare continues as he has been forced to undergo a hernia operation in London. The 30-year-old front man was the


County hotshot for more than a year now. He took pain-killing injections to


The groin injury has troubled the


get through the end of last season and rested the injury over the summer. But he broke down in pre-season


pitch, O’Connor has continued to make headlines and was fined last month after complaining on Twitter about his treatment this season. The former Luton Town man


now all of a sudden the injured lads have to be in for 8 hours a day #CosThatsGonnaHelp #Shambles “Apparently it’s my fault I’m not fit.


and had surgery in October to relieve pressure on his abductor muscles. And, despite his absence from the


bed by the club and the player and County physio Adam Roche expects O’Connor to be back before the end of the season. That will be welcome news for


posted: “Lose a couple games and


Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh, who is desperate for his top striker to play a part in the club’s hectic run- in as they push for a play-off place once again.


Not the guys they sent me to see that gave me the wrong injections for 3 half months #Clueless.” That incident has now been put to


December that O’Connor could be playing again before Christmas, stating that his return would be “like a new signing”. But after several setbacks the


manager has since been more cautious, claiming that he didn’t want to put too much pressure on the striker to return too quickly. “I don’t want to keep putting time


Edinburgh told the Argus in early


scales on it. Aaron’s been out for a long time,” he told the Argus last month. “He’s close and he’s training but if


I keep saying to you two or three weeks and he doesn’t come back (in that time) it’s a disappointment.


stepped up his rehabilitation by playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Bristol Rovers, lasting 70 minutes with no ill-effects. County won 3-2 after trailing 2-0.


County fans as long-term injury victim Byron Anthony has made a successful return to action after close to six months on the sidelines with a broken leg. The popular Newport-born defender broke his leg in two places in a Capital One Cup tie at Brighton in August. But on Tuesday morning Anthony


pressure on him with time scales. He’ll be back when he’s ready.” There is some good news for


“I don’t want to keep putting


twice fromthe tee in the first half and Wizards fly-half Ceiron Thomaswas wide with one effort, but itwould be a harshman that points the finger of blameat kick- ers on such nights. It looked like the hosts hadn’t


built a big enough advantage with the wind at their backs and it took eight minutes forAberavon to inch in from8-6 thanks to number eight TomDuncan’s try froma driving lineout and a Thomas penalty. Newport responded superbly


and regained the lead with two minutes leftwhen fly-halfMatt O’Brien smacked a cracking pen- alty into the wind, only for Thomas to reply immediately to secure an 11-9 win for the Wizards.


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