INJURY-hit Newport put up a great fight at the Arms Park and came within an ace of recording their second Principality Premiership win of the season pushing their opponents to the limit in the hectic closing minutes.

Bur Cardiff withstood the late onslaught to record their third consecutive league win over the Black and Ambers who remain near the foot of the table despite picking up a losing bonus point which nosed them ahead of Bridgend and Aberavon.

The signs looked ominous for Newport as their confident opponents stormed into a 14-0 lead in as many minutes thanks to a 70 metres interception try by clever right wing George Watkins and then the visitors’ blindside defence was nowhere to be seen allowing flanker Rory Watts-Jones to crash over for a corner try from short range. Outside half Dean Gunter added the conversion points to both touchdowns while Gunter was on target with a 30 metres penalty shortly before the interval when Cardiff led 17-11.

Newport left wing Owen Broad had heralded his team’s impressive fight back by crossing for an 18th minute unconverted try as the home defence seemed to switch off while centre Geraint O’Driscoll kicked two penalty goals – the second from 45 metres. Outside half Matt O’Brien, who proved to be a good link man, scored the only points of a disappointingly scrappy but increasingly tense second half with an excellent penalty from 50 metres eight minutes after the restart. Lock Adam Frampton was the pick of the visitors’ forwards.

But Newport, already missing a string of Dragons Academy players on duty at Cross Keys in the British and Irish Cup game, could not produce the knockout punch in attack although their cause was not helped when they were forced to further reshuffle their back division after centre Dominic Franchi left the field injured midway through the first half.

Cardiff desperately tried to stretch their lead but Gunter and replacement back Will Thomas missed four penalty kicks as the game entered its closing stages..

Newport head coach Sven Cronk said after the match: “Our forwards went well and I cannot fault the effort that everyone is putting in but we must stop making critical errors just when we are about to complete a phase that should produce a score. I know if we keep working hard that will change but we definitely missed an opportunity to pull off a good win.”

Cardiff: M. Stephens (W. Thomas,4); G. Watkins, W. Rees Hole, J. Phillips ( T. Pascoe 59), E.W.Benham; D. Gunter, T. Slater (W. Baird 74); T. Davies (C. Lewis 72), E.Lewis (R. Williams 43), J. Jones (B. Douglas 72), M. Normandale, C. Lodge, N. White, R. Watts-Jones ( J. Sheekey 72) and B. Roach, capt.(J. Edwards 45)

Scorers: Tries: G. Watkins, R.Watts-Jones; Pens: D.Gunter; Cons: D. Gunter

Newport: J. Murphy; J. Morris, G. O’Driscoll, D. Franchi (J.Lewis 22), O. Broad (J. Mogg 80); M. O’Brien, O. Davies; D. Pattison, D. Rogers (W. Evans 67), J. Monck (E. Whitson 62), A. Brown, capt., A. Frampton, S. Cross (S. Waldron 75), R. Jenkins and S. Feehan.

Scorers: Tries: O. Broad; Pens: G. O’Driscoll ( 2) M. O’Brien

Referee: Mr. Neil Hennessy (WRU).

Argus star man: Adam Frampton (Newport)