NEWPORT have real momentum heading into a weekend where they take on fierce rivals Cardiff at Spytty Park.

Two wins on the spin has seen them move up to fourth in the South Wales Premier League and after a pre-season where they won four out of five contests and a strong finish to their campaign last term, it is beginning to look more like a summer of success than a swallow.

The order from skipper Michael Clayden will be simple enough this weekend against Cardiff, “same again please,” after his side showed a ruthless touch at home last weekend.

Once again it was a performance where those with bat and ball both shone, Newport restricting St Fagans to 191 all out, with Kamau Leverock once again looking the part with the ball, taking 3-34.

Leverock is the nephew of Bermudian international Dwayne, one of the stars of the 2007 World Cup and famed for his larger than average frame.

The 20-year old has played second XI cricket for Surrey and is currently looking one of the most dangerous attack bowlers in the entire Premier League.

However, it is with the bat that Newport currently look to be excelling, three centurions in pre-season all seemingly carrying that form into the season.

St Fagans were unable to take a single wicket on Saturday as Newport hunted down 193 with ease, a proper Matt attack as Matthews Norris and Jones plundered 83 and 89 respectively in a superb partnership that included 21 boundaries.

And with Cardiff heading to Newport on the back of a defeat to Neath (by six wickets) confidence will be high that Newport can secure a third successive win.

The opposite is true in Division Two, where Panteg will look to avoid a third loss on the spin as they continue to struggle in the Premier League, Division Two.

Skipper Ian Bird admitted it was a risk for Panteg to join the division, in its experimental first season with the travelling drastically increased from a more localised league.

So far the results have not been good and a trip west to Tata Steel (Port Talbot) didn’t help last weekend, Panteg again out cheaply, bowled out for 125 with only ex-Glamorgan ace Adam Harrison and John Glover, who put on 68, providing resistance.

And Tata Steel knocked off the total to win by seven wickets, though Panteg will be grateful at least to return to home comforts this weekend.

And on paper, there is cause for optimism of a first win of the season, with Panteg squaring off against the only side in the division currently below them, Aberdare, who have lost three games out of four this season, including a five wicket defeat to Pentrych last time out.

Panteg’s task isn’t made any easier by the absence of their skipper, who will be at London’s O2 Arena to support his client Nathan Cleverly, who is fighting on the Matchroom PPV bill.

Wicket keeper Jamie Reid will step into the breach, perhaps no bad thing as he’s currently one of Panteg’s form men with the bat.