Cardiff won the heavyweight encounter with their old rivals at the Arms Park, Neil Jenkins punishing Newport with 19 points in a near-faultless kicking display.

Newport had their chances in the first half, troubling Cardiff with a strong forward display.

Shane Howarth's kicking failed to inspire confidence, though, and a number of crucial, misses cost the visitors dear.

In contrast Jenkins was unflappable, and first-half tries by Craig Morgan and Robert Howley helped keep Cardiff's 100% league record.

In the early exchanges it looked like the losses of front-row injury victims Jonathan Humphries and Dai Young might prove too much for the home side.

Adrian Garvey and Rod Snow had Cardiff props Spencer John and Gary Powell in all sorts of problems and the penalties flowed Newport's way.

But a moment of magic from Gareth Thomas helped inspire Cardiff.

The Wales wing was looking uncomfortable at full back, but when Jenkins chose to run from his own half Thomas' pace and power exploited the open space.

He ran 60 metres before feeding man-of-the-moment Craig Morgan. The in-form wing has crossed for a try in every Cardiff game this season and this was a chance he was not about to spurn.

Not to be outdone, Jenkins added a drop goal - his fourth in four games this year.

Newport pressure

The Newport pressure began to build, though, and Cardiff repeatedly conceded penalties inside their own 22.

With Howarth unable to convert the pressure into points the visitors' frustration mounted.

Just before half time Andy Marinos tried a flip pass inside, but it was spotted by Robert Howley and the scrum-half - looking like his old self - intercepted and sprinted in from 60 metres.

Cardiff's 17-6 half-time lead was quickly reduced in the second half. Forward drives from the Blue and Blacks, with Peter Buxton prominent, saw the ball slipped to free-scoring flanker Jason Forster.

He went over from short range and Howarth added the conversion.

Newport were back within a point, but from that moment the Blue and Blacks never gave them a sniff.

The home defence - notably Nick Walne - put in some colossal hits and as Newport found no way through the mistakes and indiscretions began to mount.

Every Newport offence was punished by the unerring boot of Jenkins and Cardiff eased away to comfortably keep their unbeaten record.

It will take a very good team to stop the champions in their determined defence of the crown.

Teams

Scorers - Cardiff: C Morgan, R Howley; Cons: N Jenkins: (2); Pens: Jenkins (4); DG: Jenkins

Newport: Tries: J Forster; Con: S Howarth; Pens: Howarth: (3)

Cardiff: G Thomas, N Walne, J Robinson, P Muller, C Morgan, N Jenkins, R Howley (capt), S John, A Lewis, G Powell, S Moore, J Tait, G Kacala, O Williams, M Williams
Replacements: P Jones, M Rayer, Taylor, I Jones, D Geraghty, M Voyle, M Griffin

Newport: E Lewis, M Mostyn, J Pritchard, A Marinos, M Llewellyn, S Howarth, D Burn, R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui, I Gough, P Buxton, J Forster, G Teichmann (capt)
Replacements: C Jones, P Young, G Taylor, A Popham, S Mitchell, M Pini, D Edwards

Referee: N Whitehouse (WRU)