HE SET a figure of 1,551 for future Newport points machines to try and beat but record breaker Dan Griffiths is hoping he hasn’t bisected the posts at Rodney Parade for the last time.

The 31-year-old fly-half has headed for new pastures after seven successful seasons in black and amber.

Griffiths will be turning out for Bridgend in Division One West next season, combining his playing role with a job developing the talent at the Ospreys Academy alongside former Dragons captain Kevin Morgan.

The popular number 10 from Carmarthen was denied the chance for a last hurrah when he dislocated a knee at Llandovery in March but he hopes to be able to once again run out at the Parade – albeit in the blue of the Ravens.

“My time with the club has come to an end but it is fantastic to look back at what I have achieved,” said Griffiths, who made 187 appearances for the Black and Ambers.

“I had a few options but I love Newport and I can’t imagine feeling that for another team in the division – I couldn’t fight the fight for someone else.

“But saying that, the plan is to be back in the Premiership with Bridgend and it would be great to play again in Newport.

“I have so many great memories from my time with the club but the every time I ran out at Rodney Parade was special.

“I played in front of massive crowds in France for Bayonne and experienced a bit of regional rugby but I never tired of running out at the Parade.”

Griffiths joined the Black and Ambers from Whitland and was just as prolific at Rodney Parade as he had been out west.

He inched his way up the all-time scorers list, passing the likes of Leighton Davies, Norman Morgan and Shane Howarth.

And on Feburary 8, 2008 at Maesteg’s Old Parish he went to the top of the pile, surpassing Dragons coach Paul Turner’s tally of 1,145.

“A lot was made of the record because it had stood for so long and there are so many players on that list,” said Griffiths.

“But I can honestly say it was never a priority for me. All I cared about was winning with the boys and anything else was a bonus.

“You are only as good as your team and it was the efforts of my teammates that allowed me to score the points.

“I will miss the squad because we are a tight bunch and I will also miss the Newport fans – they have been so loyal and I have got so many people to thank for making my time at the club so special.

“I had to travel 60 miles to find home and there was nowhere else I wanted to be.”