NEWPORT “dodged a bullet” last weekend when rain at Spytty Park saved them from what looked like being just their second league defeat of the season, according to coach Mike Knight.

St Fagans – the only side to beat Knight’s men in South Wales Premier League Division One this term – had looked on course to do the double over the leaders before the wet weather intervened.

The visitors made short shrift of Newport’s batting line-up, with Jeremy Lawlor dismissing captain Matt Norris fellow opener Nick Selman, Imran Hassan and Callum Taylor.

Taylor came and went without scoring, a rare failure for a batsman who has found runs so easy to come by this summer.

In reply to the hosts’ 109 all out, St Fagans didn’t seem to be having the same problems with the pitch that Newport did and were seemingly cruising to victory on 36-0.

However, their hopes of knocking off the 74 required to win were dashed as the rain fell, the downpours denying them a seventh success of 2018.

Newport, though, were certainly due some good luck with the weather given that their title challenge in 2017 was undone by several abandonments.

“We were glad when the rain came,” explained Knight.

“It was one where we dodged a bullet.

“St Fagans had the best of the conditions so for us it was a good game to be abandoned.

“It has happened a few times to us in the past so we know what it’s like to be in their position.”

With four games of the season left, Newport hold a 28-point advantage over second-placed Neath, who they host a week on Saturday.

Tomorrow sees Newport go to mid-table Pontarddulais, whose Ffosyrefail Ground hasn’t been the best of venues for Knight and his charges in recent years.

And while Pontarddulais might be well out of the running for top honours this time around, they have won four of their last six fixtures. It’s the old cliché of one game at a time for us,” added Knight.

“All we are looking to do is win this one and then move on to the next.

“Pontarddulais will be tough, and we haven’t won our last two games there, so we can’t look past it to the home game against Neath.”

Newport will be without former Glamorgan all-rounder Ian Thomas for the match.

In Division Two, Panteg host Llanelli, Malpas go to Penarth and Newport Fugitives visit Ynystawe.

Panteg got the better of Malpas last weekend, while the Fugies lost to second-placed Penarth – both results were affected by rain and settled via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Newbridge lost ground on Miskin Manor in the South East Wales League Division One title race after suffering an 83-run defeat to Pentyrch in another rain-affected contest.

Nearly 30 points now separates the leaders and Newbridge in second so it’s a must-win for James Morgan’s men at Pontypridd tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Croesyceiliog, Sudbrook and Usk have home advantage against Miskin Manor, Pentyrch, Brecon, Cardiff Gymkhana and Tondu respectively.

Tondu look favourites to finish bottom of the table as they are 29 points adrift of Brecon with half-a-dozen fixtures of the 2018 season remaining.