As if to give Cardiff Blues a boost before their trip to Rodney Parade to face the Dragons in the RaboDirect PRO12, the Arms Park outfit galvanized themselves after a poor start to the season for their biggest derby match of the campaign.
They were 36-3 to the good by the break and piled on the agony in the second half to leave Newport feeling very sorry for themselves. Lock Macauley Cook and scrum half Rob Lewis both crossed for two tries and there were scores for Wales 7s wing Richard Smith and Blues players Dan Fish and Robin Copeland.
Outside half Gareth Davies converted seven of he tries and added a penalty for a match tally of 17 points. Elliot Frewen and Nick Hodnett crossed for the visitors.
Table-topping Llandovery picked up a bonus point at home with a five try romp against Bridgend. Their 32-12 victory contained 15 points from the boot of Cerith Rees and tries from Shaun Miles, Chris Knight, Lee Rees, Tom Ball and Rhodri Williams.
Cross Keys also ran in five tries as they piled more misery on Aberavon, who slumped to their third successive defeat. Former Wales Under 20 centre Luke Ford, fresh from a stint with Taranaki, scored two of the home tries.
There were three yellow cards in the game at Carmarthen Quins, where reigning champions Pontypridd triumphed 24-16. Andrew Thomas and Gavin Evans both had 10 minutes on the side for the Quins, while Ponty back row man Wayne O’Connor also saw yellow.
Dai Flanagan kicked four penalties for the visitors and converted one of the two tries scored by Dan Godfrey and Cory Hill. Dan Newton kicked 11 points for Quins and Andrew Thomas grabbed a try.
There were two tries apiece for exciting young backs Ross Wardle and Matthew John in Bedwas’ 37-17 home destruction of Swansea. Richie Powell completed the scoring with 17 points from four conversions and three penalties.
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