NEWPORT were forced to settle for a losing bonus point at the Arms Park last night as they got their Principality Premiership campaign up and running with a narrow defeat to Cardiff.

In the end it was a long-range penalty from Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans that was the difference between the rivals on the hosts’ artificial surface.

There was plenty for Newport coach Craig Warlow to be pleased with but the visitors will feel that the win was certainly there for the taking.

Newport, who curiously had two players without numbers on their backs, were caught with a double sucker punch before the game was 10 minutes old.

First, a chip into the Black and Ambers’ in-goal area appeared to be one the visitors could deal with, but a wicked bounce saw the ball go straight to full-back Rhun Williams and he did the rest.

Evans slotted the conversion to rub further salt into the Newport wound.

With Cardiff on the front foot again, flanker Luke Crocker took the ball up the middle, try scorer Williams drew in a defender, offloaded to Ceri Young and the winger just about managed to touch down.

The referee gave the try after a brief consultation with his assistant but this time Evans couldn’t add the extras.

Crucially, Newport didn’t panic and they got themselves back in the contest before the end of the opening quarter.

Winger Elliot Frewen and outside-half Matt O’Brien made the initial thrusts into the Cardiff 22 and their runs drew in enough of the covering defence to create an overlap on the left.

However, it wasn’t one of the backs on the end of the final pass out wide but none other than prop John Lavender, who crashed over in the corner.

O’Brien couldn’t convert but when Newport forced a penalty a few minutes later the number 10 easily slotted the three points to make it 12-8.

By this stage the Newport forwards were beginning to rule the breakdown as the home side played more and more on the back foot.

With a typically vocal army of supporters behind them a second try followed for the visitors.

Lavender again showed a good turn of pace but it looked like a break down the left had been squandered when the pass didn’t go to the spare man.

However, when the ball broke and hit a Newport foot, Frewen was on hand to pick up and coast over unopposed. O’Brien converted to give his side a 15-12 lead.

At the end of an entertaining half O’Brien attempted a three-pointer from inside his own half, but the kick went wide of the target.

Neither side covered themselves in glory in the early stages of the second period.

Cardiff did draw level though when a scrum infringement by Newport resulted in Evans knocking over the kick to make it 15-15.

O’Brien struck a post with an effort of his own before Young recorded his second try of the night to put Cardiff on top again. Evans’ conversion made it 22-15 to the hosts.

Back came Newport and Lavender’s fellow prop Garin Harris got in on the act with a close-range effort. Replacement Arwel Robson tied the scores by adding the extras.

A huge chance to seize the initiative was then missed by Cardiff when Warlow’s men pounced on a loose ball at a five-metre scrum to clear.

With time ticking away any chance of points couldn’t be turned down and Evans took his opportunity to edge Cardiff in front with a long-range penalty.

Unfortunately for Newport, that kick proved to be the match winner.

The visitors had to settle for a losing bonus point but they can take heart that there wasn’t much between the teams at all.

Scorers – Cardiff, Tries: R Williams, C Young (2), Cons: J Evans (2), Pens: J Evans (2)

Newport, Tries: J Lavender, E Frewen, G Harris, Cons: M O’Brien, A Robson, Pens: M O’Brien