NEWPORT have been hailed as the best side in Wales after their record 33-6 demolition job on Pontypridd at Sardis Road last night which sent them roaring to the top of the Welsh/Scottish League Table.

"Newport are the best side we have played this season and the best side in Wales," said Pontypridd coach Lynn Howells, the former Wales assistant coach to Graham Henry.

"Newport have obviously learnt a lot from their trips to Ireland and though they had a week off prior to Wednesday you can't take anything away from them.

"It was one hell of a performance and Newport are obviously on top of their game. "At the moment they are the best side I have seen this season, for long periods of the game we didn't have the ball.

"Newport's pace was good and their scrum half (Ofisa Tonu'u) is a very good player. "It was a lesson, but now and again you get beaten by a better team."

Newport coach Ian McIntosh was delighted not just with the performance, but with the manner of it, though he urges everyone not to get carried away.

"I'm proud of the boys," he said. "We had been getting ourselves uptight, but we just got out there and played rugby. I'm delighted with the way we won.

"That's the best we have played this season, it was a big win and what was more pleasing is the players just want to play, there was some lovely patches.

"We have got to believe in ourselves and let it take us wherever it takes us. "But there is a long way to go and we must not get carried away. We're not half way through and nothing was ever won in December."

But McIntosh still had a dig at the refereeing, particularly in the scrums. "We had the dominance, but the opposition was being protected," he said guardedly." "I can't understand our dominance in the scrum yet the penalties were going against us," he added.

Young No 8 Andrew Powell, back to his best after an injury lay-off, said: "It's the best we've played since I've been in the side.

"We've still got a long way to go and everyone will target us now. But we've got to keep on playing good rugby, I'm just pleased to be back into it." Certainly, the manner and margin of the victory will send shock waves through Welsh rugby going into the New Year.