Craig Morgan and Matt Mostyn

Charge down

The first half developed into a battle of attrition in front of the huge Boxing Day crowd.

Howley nearly got a sixth-minute try for Cardiff after charging down a Shane Howarth clearance, but he was denied as the ball ran dead.

It was Newport who were in charge for much of the opening 40, though, their forwards putting together some strong drives and the backs looking adventurous.

Howarth opened the scoring in the ninth minute, the forwards recycling good ball in front of the Cardiff posts to enable him to slot an easy drop goal.

Frustration

The home side were on top, but were repeatedly frustrated as Cardiff's renowned defence tackled with vigour and slowed down the recycled ball.

Lock Gareth Taylor went close, then Matt Pini failed with a long drop-goal attempt.

The home side's frustration mounted, and was not helped when Howarth fired an easy 30th-minute penalty wide.

As the Blue and Blacks again killed the ball another Newport penalty was this time put over by Howarth, but Cardiff came back strongly and two typically accurate Neil Jenkins kicks levelled the scores.

Newport had the visitors under pressure at the scrum, Kenneth Fourie and Andrew Lewis, struggling against Adrian Garvey and Rod Snow.

A collapsed scrum led to another penalty attempt for Howarth on half-time, but it was fired wide, raising home fears that Cardiff's tenacious tendencies would again bring them success.

Jinks on fire

Jenkins then stunned the home side at the start of the second half, making a classic break before freeing Nick Walne, another to impress.

Walne passed to Gareth Thomas who found the looping Jenkins in support, the veteran fly-half crossing in the corner.

Minutes later quickly recycled ball came back to Jenkins who fired a perfect drop goal.

The watching Graham Henry would have been impressed with the cool of Jenkins - in contrast to Lions rival Shane Howarth who was struggling under the pressure.

Newport try

Howarth was trying to spin the ball, but Newport were repeatedly hammered back by the solid wall of Blue and Black defenders.

It was the Kiwi's kick ahead that finally broke down the line, though, as Ben Breeze gathered the ball ahead of Walne.

It was spread across the field where Gary Teichmann freed Popham for his try in the corner.

The gap was down to three points, but a Howarth penalty hit the post - to the agony of the eager crowd.

Cardiff, their spirits raised, fired back in attack and impressive young full-back Ashman was sent clear for his score.

This seemed to be the decisive try, but another Howarth drop goal brought the home side within a converted try.

Again Newport hammered into the visitors' defence, and as Cardiff repeatedly killed the ball Rodney Parade bayed for a penalty try.

It was not to be, though, and the Blue and Blacks secured another vital win without ever playing to their full potential.

Scorers - Newport: Try: A Popham; Con: S Howarth; Pen: Howarth; Drop goals: Howarth (2)

Cardiff: Tries: N Jenkins, O Ashman; Cons: Jenkins (2); Pens: Jenkins (2); Drop goal: Jenkins

Newport: M Pini, M Mostyn, J Jones-Hughes, J Pritchard, B Breeze, S Howarth, D Burn, R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui, I Gough, A Popham, J Forster, G Teichmann
Replacements: C Jones, P Young, Fortey, G Taylor, E Lewis, M Watkins, Edwards

Cardiff: O Ashman, N Walne, J Robinson, G Thomas, C Morgan, N Jenkins, R Howley, A Lewis, J Humphreys, K Fourie, S Moore, M Voyle, G Kacala, M Williams, E Lewis
Replacements: R Powell, L Davies, W Fyvie, J Tait, P Rogers, D Geraghty, D Baugh

Referee: Nigel Williams (Bryncoch)