NEWPORT romped to the biggest win in the Welsh Premier Division this season and passed a century of tries with this ten-try romp at Rodney Parade.

But it was rough justice on Newbridge, at full strength when Newport prematurely postponed the game back in December but injury-ravaged last night.

They lost three players with hamstring injuries in training on Tuesday, had to play a scrum half at full back, included a centre for his first Premier game of the season and used coach Jonathan Westwood as a replacement.

They never stopped trying, but with Newport in such scintillating form any side in the division would have been hard pressed to hold them.

The victory took Gareth Gravell's side three points clear of Neath at the top with a game in hand while Newbridge remain in the relegation zone.

Gravell was an inspiration last night as he led a rampaging pack with pace and aggression and opened the floodgates with the first try.

Newport dominated all phases so that the backs had a glut of possession.

They used it well on the whole, though some early poor handling, over elaboration and a failure to utilise overlaps still cost them points.

Some easy place kicks too were missed, leaving Newbridge grateful for small mercies.

The best of Newport's touchdowns was their second by right wing Craig Richards in the 18th-minute on a night when he made it 27 for the season.

Impressive centre Rhys Shorney ran from his 22 to half way, brought in wing Will Kershaw-Naylor and Gravell before second row Steve Martin superbly switched play.

The ball went right and outside half Daniel Griffiths, who contributed 17 points to leave himself one short of 250 for the season, burst into oceans of space to put Richards over.

Richards' second try, Newport's sixth, resulted in a yellow card for Newbridge wing Andrew Beavan, but it was Bisp who should have spent ten-minutes on the sidelines for illegally trying to halt him.

It was all one-way traffic as Newport again emphasised their title-winning credentials and several young players staked further claims for regional development places next season.

Newport: R Davies, C Richards (C Thomas 61min), S Williams (W Thomas 61min), R Shorney, W Kershaw-Naylor, D Griffiths, O Jones (L Lane 69min), I George (D Pattison 69min), G Robinson, S Cronk (G Horrigan 53min), S Martin, M Veater, S Waldron (M Tucker 53min), G Gravell (M Popham 53min), R Jones. Scorers. Tries: Richards (two), Gravell, Veater, Davies, Martin, Griffiths, Horrigan, W Thomas, Shorney; conversions: Richards (six). Yellow card: Waldron.

Newbridge: G Bisp, C Arnold, G Turner, A Green (J Westwood 61min), A Beavan, R Watts, M Taylor, R Davies, L Davies, P Taylor, W Sims, A Edwards, S Greedy (S Coles 61min), M Ackerman (S Evans 28min), M Griffin. Yellow cards: Beavan, Griffin. Referee: Paul Adams (Ebbw Vale). Attendance: 2, 767