On a night when his side scored six tries to down old rivals Newport, Cardiff head coach Dan Fish hailed their defensive display.
Newport may have left the Arms Park empty handed but the final 40-27 scoreline was harsh on them. The Black & Ambers led on four separate occasions during the match, while they were pushing to score a fourth try late on that would have likely secured them at least two bonus points.
Then, with time running out, a misplaced flicked pass from Newport second row Josh Skinner – who found himself out wide on the touchline – after a speculative kick by Rhys Cummings – allowed full-back Matty Young to intercept and score to make sure of a first home victory for Cardiff over Newport since September 2023.
It gave the final scoreline a more flattering look – something that Fish was quick to acknowledge afterwards.
“People will look at the scoreline and think Cardiff won comfortably, but if they’ve watched that game back, it couldn’t be any further away,” he said. “It was a nip and tuck game, back and forth for the majority of the game.
“Obviously we had that runaway try at the end; from good pressure, chasing the ball and Newport were chucking everything at us to try and get that double bonus point. Every time we play Newport, it’s always a tight affair.
“We’re obviously glad to come out on top. I thought we played some excellent rugby at times in the game, and to be fair, I thought that some of our defensive efforts were outstanding.
“I think we held them up over the line three times and that just shows that desperation for each other, and for the badge on their chest – and that was very pleasing to see.”
Young’s late try added to two in the first half from flanker Ben Fry and one for Wales U20 speedster Tom Bowen. Centre Steff Emanuel and wing Dewi Cross also went over after the break as Cardiff made it eight league wins on the bounce. Harri Wilde added a further 10 points from the tee.
The win means Cardiff will end the regular Super Rygbi Cymru season in the top two and therefore will have home advantage in the play-off quarter finals, as well as the semis should they get there.
The Blue & Blacks – now just three points behind Ebbw Vale with one round remaining – could yet still finish the regular season top of the pile. For Newport, it was their first taste of defeat since they went down narrowly at Llandovery in early December.
Since that 22-19 reverse at Church Bank, Ty Morris’ men had reeled off six league wins and were unbeaten in 12 as their run also included lifting the SRC Cup and taking the SRC Challenger Shield off Ebbw Vale.
But defeat for Swansea by Bridgend means the Black & Ambers have now secured a top four place.
Flanker Hunter Ward scored twice for the defending champions at the Arms Park, with Chay Foster-Smith also on the scoresheet. Carwyn Penny converted all three Newport tries and kicked two penalties.
“Cardiff are a clinical team; we gave opportunities to them, which we probably didn’t need to, and when they have those, they’re going to take them,” said Newport captain Ben Roach.
“We had chances to take ourselves. We were on their try line and got held up two or three times, so there were definitely opportunities to win that game. But fair play to Cardiff, they came out on top.”