A WIN at the Diamond Ground in Cardiff tomorrow could make it a golden summer for Newport.

The top two sides in Division One of the South Wales Premier League lock horns this weekend, with leaders Newport knowing victory would take them a giant step closer to the title.

After last Saturday’s contrasting results for both teams, Michael Clayden’s men are now 15 points clear at the summit.

Only three fixtures will remain following their tussle with Greg Holmes and his charges in the Welsh capital.

Cardiff picked up 17 points from the previous meeting between the two this season at Spytty Park in early June – they were denied outright victory as Newport, batting second, finished on 157-9.

Since then their records have been similar, although Newport are still yet to lose a league match in 2016.

Cardiff’s only loss this term was at home to Mumbles in May, and it was a losing draw against the same opponents last weekend that allowed Newport to seize the initiative in the title race.

While Holmes’ troops faltered, skipper Clayden was leading his side to a 48-run defeat of rock bottom Ynysygerwn.

“We’re obviously in the driving seat so a win for us will be massive,” said Clayden. “If we win heavily then we could go 30 points ahead of them.

“We’ve then got Bridgend next Saturday and if we beat them as well then we’ll have one hand on the trophy.”

As well as their crunch league encounter in Cardiff, Newport are also involved in the ECB National T20 Area play-offs on Sunday.

Newport, South Wales Premier League T20 champions, host area winners from West of England, Devon and Cornwall at Spytty Park, with the first match starting at 10.30am.

Meanwhile, even though the battle for domestic honours should be a two-horse race now, third-placed Bridgend will look to apply as much pressure as they can when they host Mumbles.

Port Talbot, in fourth, are eight points behind Bridgend and will fancy their chances of overcoming surprise strugglers Swansea on home soil.

Elsewhere, Neath entertain Pontarddulais and Ammanford go to Ynysygerwn.

In Division Two, there is now just one point separating leaders Panteg and second-placed Penarth.

The gap was two going into last Saturday’s games and was halved after both had to settle for winning draws.

Callum Reid blasted 114 off 118 balls and captain Ian Bird smashed 69 in Panteg’s 259-5 against Ynystawe.

Chris White and Jack Mayers each claimed to wickets in Ynystawe’s reply which finished on 222-6.

With four matches left, Division Two, like the top tier, seems to be a two-team contest for first prize, with the final Saturday showdown between the current frontrunners looking like being a winner-takes-all encounter.

There was to be no lucky seventh win in a row for Blackwood in Division One of the South East Wales League last time out – but they came so close.

Chasing a mammoth 295 to beat leaders Newport Fugitives in a top-of-the-table clash, Blackwood fell just six runs short.

A marvellous 118 not out from Gareth Thomas had earlier helped the Fugies make 294-5, before useful contributions from James Horton, David Windross and Rhodri Evans almost saw the hosts over the line.

Blackwood now find themselves in fifth, 33 points behind the Fugies, but only 10 shy of Newbridge, who took over in second with a 60-run win against Croesyceiliog.

Newbridge and Blackwood meet tomorrow, the Fugies host Sudbrook and Croesy go to Pontypridd.

Meanwhile, Abergavenny entertain Usk and Chepstow, sitting fourth with three games left, host bottom side Radyr.