CAERPHILLY 19 NEWPORT 65

WHISPER it quietly, but Newport are really clicking into gear and with their biggest win of the season at Caerphilly last night moved second in the Welsh League Premier Division.

How ironic and how tragic, therefore, that Newport will not play as Newport at the highest level next season given the deal that finally looks like being agreed today.

Given that Cardiff and Llanelli are expected to stand alone, the Newport directors will leave some legacy if they allow the club name to be left out of the team to represent the area in future.

After a season which can at best be described as indifferent, Newport look like getting it together at last and have now won six of their last seven games.

And the one that got away should never have been after a big lead against Neath was thrown away.

Newport's biggest and best win of the season may have been at the expense of bottom-of-the-table Caerphilly, but it was pretty impressive nonetheless.

For half-an-hour it was even with Caerphilly twice snatching the lead through the kicking of former Newport player Justin Thomas, now playing at outside half.

But from the moment tearaway flanker Jason Forster raced away from a ruck to score the second try - wing Alex Cadwallader had ripped through for the first - it was one-way traffic.

Newport scored eight tries as forwards and backs combined with the best rugby of the season.

The pack dug in well with loads of determination to secure good possession which was used much better by the backs.

Some of the more unsung members like Steve Ojomoh, Matthew Veater and Cadwallader shone and it was gratifying for David Llewellyn to play his first full half of senior rugby for over three years.

After the Cadwallader and Forster double, Matt Mostyn zipped across after clever sleight of hand by Jason Strange, who converted all three first half tries and kicked two penalties for a 27-12 interval lead.

Newport stepped up a gear in the second half to score 38 points with only seven in reply. Veater scored his first try for Newport while Mostyn and Forster got their second of the match.

And for good measure Newport were awarded two penalty tries, the first for collapsing a maul with Newport powering for the line and the second after a dangerous late tackle on Jonathan Pritchard.

Fortunately neither Pritchard, celebrating his 23rd birthday, nor Caerphilly scrum half Allen Chilten, stretchered off with a neck injury, was any worse for wear.

Full back Jarrod Murphy scored Caerphilly's only try, Thomas kicking 14 points, but this proved a total mismatch.

Caerphilly: -- try: Murphy, pens Thomas (3), drop goal Thomas, con: Thomas.

Newport: -- tries: Mostyn (2), Forster (2), Cadwallader, Veater; penalty tries (2); cons: Strange (4), Montgomery (4); pens: Strange (2), Montgomery.