NEWPORT have targeted winning the Welsh/Scottish League title for the first time as the reward for consistency over the season.

Third-placed Neath stand in the way of Newport returning to the head of the table at Rodney Parade tonight (7.30pm) after Llanelli knocked them off the top last night with their narrow 26-20 home victory over Pontypridd.

Newport pair, full back Matt Pini and prop Rod Snow insist they want the league title at the end of a long season.

"Llanelli and Cardiff have got a very real chance of winning the league provided Newport make mistakes," warned Snow.

"But that's the challenge. If we make one or two mistakes it will throw the door wide open. "We've got Cardiff again at the end of the month, and we haven't been too successful against them, so that will be tough.

"We've got six games left, it's not easy playing the top clubs, and we've got hard away games at Swansea and Glasgow, so it's not a foregone conclusion. "But that's still the future, the present is the Neath game.

"Winning the league title is a test of the ability and skills over nine or ten months. "The cup is a one-off and luck is a big thing, but league is all about consistency which is reflected in being the best team in the country.

"So the league is more important than the cup." Pini also believes the secret of real success lies in capturing the league title. "For me, if you end up winning the top competition over the last 10 months you truly can be called champions," he said.

"The knock-out competition can be down to a bit of luck or who you are drawn against, but in the league, the team at the top is the most consistent."

Canadian Snow is in his seventh year at Newport and having tasted cup glory last season, after years without success, is now after the league title.

"Winning the cup last season was massive and I'd dearly love to have one more trophy," he said.

Neath coach Lyn Jones defended his decision to leave out a number of key players. "Newport are an extremely strong all-round side," he said.

"They are favourites for the league and the most consistent side in Wales."