Cardiff dump holders out

Iestyn Harris scored 10 points for Cardiff

Principality Cup quarter-final
Cardiff 20-14 Newport

Holders Newport crashed out of the Principality Cup after Cardiff and Wales scrum-half Rob Howley settled a tense quarter-final clash four minutes from time.

Howley sprinted over from 20 metres, catching the Newport defence napping, to book Cardiff's place in the last four.

"Lots of hard work, sheer guts and determination - that's what won us the game," said Cardiff coach Rudy Joubert.

"Newport were probably favourites for the competition and, now that we've beaten them, there's no reason we can't go on and win it."

But Newport, who saw their hopes of a league and cup double disappear, will kick themselves all the way home.

  Scoring details

Cardiff (6) 20:
Tries: J Robinson, R Howley
Cons: I Harris (2)
Pens: I Harris (2)

Newport (9) 14:
Tries: J Forster
Pens: S Howarth (3)

Att: 13, 200

Fly-half Shane Howarth missed three penalties, two of those from close range during a three-minute second-half spell when Newport's forwards were well on top.

And although Cardiff finished the game one man short after substitute prop Ken Fourie was sent off in injury time after receiving a second yellow card, Newport had blown it in front of a capacity 13,200 Arms Park crowd.

Howley's opportunist score also got his half-back partner Iestyn Harris out of jail.

The former rugby league star was guilty of some glaring misses in front of goal, landing just four kicks from eight attempts, despite perfect playing conditions.

In the end it did not matter as tries from Howley and Wales' centre Jamie Robinson saw Cardiff home.

Harris and Howarth exchanged two penalties each during an opening 30 minutes of cat and mouse rugby.

But Howarth's third penalty during first-half injury time gave Newport a narrow but deserved interval lead.

More gaps began to appear in both defences as the second-half progressed and on 59 minutes the crucial first try was scored by Cardiff.

Cardiff try-heroes Rob Howley and Jamie Robinson

The visitors lost the ball in the tackle and Harris sent a perfectly weighted kick deep into Newport territory.

Robinson showed the defence a clean pair of heels to dive on the ball and claim a try.

Harris missed the conversion, but was given another opportunity at goal after the referee penalised the Newport players for charging the kick down too early.

The fly-half made no mistake the second time.

Fourie was then harshly sin-binned for a technical offence by referee David Davies, and Newport made their one-man advantage count within three minutes as flanker Jason Forster touched down after a mighty forward drive.

Howarth could not convert, and with just one point separating the sides, Howley made his dash for glory in the 76th minute. Harris converted.

Newport enjoyed territorial supremacy during the closing moments, but they could not make it count even after Fourie's red card.

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Cardiff: R Williams; A Sullivan, J Robinson, P Muller, C Morgan; I Harris, R Howley; S John, J Humphreys, D Young (capt), A Jones, L Tait, R Appleyard, M Williams, E Lewis.
Reps: K Fourie, A Lewis, R Sowden-Taylor, D Baugh, R Powell, N Robinson, M Allen

Newport: M Pini; M Mostyn, M Watkins, J Pritchard, B Breeze; S Howarth, O Tonu'u; R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, S Raiwalui (capt), I Gough, P Buxton, J Forster, A Powell.
Reps: J Powell, A Garvey, H Luscombe, J Strange, D Burn, Young, A Popham.

Referee: David R Davies.