Second-placed Llandovery kept the gap to just three points with a 44-24 home victory over Pontypool, while Swansea and Bridgend played out an absorbing 29-29 draw.
But the most dramatic game of the weekend came with the clash of the old rivals in mid-table, where Newport hosted Cardiff.
On a night when both captains were celebrating their 100th appearance for their respective teams it was Newport's Ben Roach who came out on top over Cardiff's Sean Moore.
In fact, the game turned sour for second row Moore as he picked up a red card and saw his side slip to a 19-12 defeat against their ancient rivals at Rodney Parade.
It was the sixth time in the last 10 meetings in all competitions that the Black & Ambers had come out on the right side of scoreboard against the Blue & Blacks and they fully deserved their latest victory.
"To reach 100 games in a derby game against Cardiff at Rodney Parade is something very special. Getting the win is the cherry on top," said Roach.
"We knew they had a good set piece and we worked hard to take that away from them in the first half.ย
โWe only conceded one penalty in that time and we built up a 14-point lead. There was a bit of a momentum shift after the break but we were still able to hold on to win."
Dragonsโ half backs Che Hope and Jac Lloyd ensured they played in the right areas and the home pack found a way to nullify the power of the Cardiff pack at the set pieces.
Mooreโs dismissal came in the 74th minute when referee Carwyn Sion spotted the Cardiff second row lifting his foot in an alleged stamping motion on home hooker Henry Palmer at a ruck in the 22.ย
Moore protested his innocence, claiming his foot was being held, but the red card came out forcing his side to play the final six minutes a man short.
Cardiff earlier had flanker Nathan Hudd sent to the sin bin for a late tackle and while he was off the field the home side struck twice.ย
Lock Josh Skinner drove over for the first try a minute later and then prop Garin Harris made it an expensive 10 minute sit down on the naughty step for Hudd as he crashed over from close range in the 22nd minute.
Lloyd added the extras to both tries and Newport found themselves in good shape 14-0 ahead at the break.
Cardiff improved after a strong talking to at half-time by head coach Dan Fish and six minutes after the re-start hooker Alun Rees opened their account with a classic driving line-out try.ย
Wales U19 cap Lloyd Lucas converted and it was game on.
Just before the hour mark the visitorsโ thought they had put another dent into the home lead when chief poacher Dewi Cross appeared to win the race for a kick and chase try.ย
The referee saw it differently, and ruled out the try because Cross was ahead of the kicker.
If that was a blow to Cardiff, then the try from Newport centre Chay Foster-Smith four minutes later was a mortal wound.ย
The Newport forwards carried hard to the posts and then Lloyd threw a 20 metre pass to win Iestyn Galton cutting back against the grain.
Galton carried to within five metres before passing inside to Foster-Smith, who brushed aside two tacklers to score. Lloyd couldnโt make it three out of three off the tee, but the lead was back up to two scores at 19-7.
Wales U20 centre Elijah Evans showed some neat football skills and a great turn of speed to conjure up a try from half way down the left touchline to score Cardiffโs second try nine minutes from time and give his side some hope, but then came the red card.
Lloyd had the chance to seal things with a penalty 30 metres out from the posts but pushed his shot wide in what was one of his only blemishes of another great night for Newport as they made it three wins in a row to move up to seventh in the table.
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