Newport down Cardiff in Derby Match
On a frosty night at Rodney Parade these age-old rivals met for the first time this season in a Super Cymru Rugby encounter.
Cardiff had won their last three games, and the home side were recovering from their lethargic start to the season and had won their two previous matches.
After a minute’s silence for Newport stalwart Ian Barnard Newport’s Jac Lloyd got proceedings underway. On three minutes the first scrum was won decisively by Newport pushing Cardiff off their own ball. The first. ten minutes was an arm wrestle peppered by box kicks. On 11 minutes a Newport penalty was kicked into the corner and after a sustained period of pressure near the Cardiff line the Newport forwards were held up over the line.
On fifteen minutes Fin Baker made a great break from a move from a Newport line out where he cut in from the wing. This move had Cardiff back peddling and during the move Nathan Hudd was sent to the bin after a late challenge.
With a one-man advantage Newport drove the ball back to the Cardiff line which they laid siege tour eventually Josh Skinner powered over after seventeen minutes, Jac Lloyd converted.
Newport 7 – 0 Cardiff
At the end of the first quarter of the match Cardiff were on the back foot and being out muscled by the Newport pack. On 23 minutes Newport pressure paid dividends when prop Garin Harris got over. Jac Lloyd converted.
Newport 14 – 0 Cardiff
Despite a man down Cardiff were in constant possession and took the game to the home side. Although they were unable to get into Newport’s 22. Newport’s defence was dominant.
33 minutes Newport attacked in the Cardiff half but failed to score. Despite all of the possession in the opening half Newport let themselves down because of their inaccuracy in set piece moves.
Half Time
Newport 14 – 0 Cardiff
At the start of the second half Cardiff came quickly out of the blocks winning possession and penalties, Newport were pinned in their 22 and eventually on 46 minutes Cardiff opened their scoring when hooker Alun Rees was driven over, Lloyd Lucas converted.
Newport 14 – 7 Cardiff
Cardiff carried on taking the game to Newport until the 50th minute when Newport became more assertive and started going through the phases but could not gain anything. On 57 minutes Lloyd Lucas kicked downfield and wing Dewi Cross beat the back peddling Newport defenders in a chase to be the first to the ball in the in-goal area. Newport breathed a sigh of relief when referee Carwyn Sion whistled for a penalty for Cross being in front of the kicker.
A great break took Newport to Cardiff’s 22. Newport won a penalty and put the ball near to the Cardiff line.
From a scrum the ball was sped along the line. and Jac Lloyd sent out a long pass to Iestyn Galton on the wing and Galton passed back inside to Chay Foster-Smith who dived over for Newport’s third try.
Jac Lloyd was just wide with his conversion attempt.
62 minutes Newport 19 – 7 Cardiff
A good spell of play for Cardiff having many phases of play. From halfway spread the ball to the wing to Elijah Evans to kick ahead over Newport’s line and win the chase for the touchdown, only minutes before Evans was suffering from cramp. Evans was awarded the try but after looking at tv replays it looked like Jac Lloyd had won the race.
Steph Crimp missed the conversion.
70 minutes Newport 19 – 12 Cardiff
On 73 minutes Cardiff’s captain Sean Moore was red carded, Henry Palmer was holding onto Moore’s foot whilst he was on the ground, Moore shook his foot free and stamped on Palmer’s head. Referee Carwyn Sion had no choice but to order the Cardiff captain from the pitch. Jac Lloyd missed what should have been a certain three points from in front of the posts.
Lloyd put Newport back into the Cardiff 22 with a tremendous kick that saw Cardiff’s Aled Summerhill bundled into touch near his line. The subsequent forward drive was stopped by the visitors. Newport tried hard for a bonus point try but a combination of fine tackling and Newport errors saw the score stay at 19 – 12.
Final Score Newport 19 – 12 Cardiff
Newport’s next two games are on the road at Pontypool Park on Friday 28th November 2025 against Pontypool and at Llandovery on Saturday 6th December.