IT WAS the greatest of ironies that a lineout ploy that worked at the fifth attempt proved the decisive moment for Pontypool in their hard-earned win over Cardiff at Pontypool Park on Saturday.

Pontypool's lineout was a shambles all afternoon, Cardiff taking four against the throw with another six home efforts lost because the ball was not thrown in straight.

Yet, after being pulled back from 18-0 after 24 minutes to 18-10 just four minutes into the second half with their visitors in the ascendancy, Pontypool pulled a fast one.

Hooker Leighton Jones again threw straight to Matthew Amos at the front of the lineout, took his immediate return pass and galloped 20m for a try outside-half Sam Mills converted superbly from the touchline.

The throw did not appear to have gone the required five metres, but was awarded, and Cardiff coach Mike Rayer had no complaints.

"They had tried it four times so we should have been aware and have only ourselves to blame," he said. "Pontypool deserved to win because we simply left it too late to start playing."

Pontypool coach Steve Jones agreed. "I've got to give all the young boys a pat on the back because they stuck it out. I thought we deserved to win, though Cardiff pushed us hard in the second half," he said.

"We've got a massive injury crisis and I couldn't fault the lads for their effort, and I would have said the same had we lost.

"The referee (Clayton Thomas) said it was a very good game, but it was a bit of a nightmare for me towards the end."

After Jones' try Cardiff took complete control, though it was harsh that referee Thomas awarded a 64th-minute penalty try against them for collapsing the scrum.

It was the only time the whole game the scrum went down.

Cardiff outside-half Chris Anderson converted, and thereafter Pontypool had to defend dourly.

Cardiff scored again five minutes before the end when lock James Goode stole another Pontypool throw and the ball was moved along the line for right wing Elgan Jones to link with full back Leon Andrews to put left wing Matthew Nuthall over.

But Pontypool retained possession at the death to thwart the Cardiff fightback.

The game lacked skill at times, with Cardiff particularly pedestrian and lacking the ability to retain the ball early on, though number eight James Malpas was a threat.

Pontypool put in far more effort and their pack dominated the opening 30 minutes, with back-row pair Andrew Coombes in particular and Gavin Lucas in the van, but with everyone giving good support.

Behind, outside-half Sam Mills was solid and gave his side the lead with two early penalties before Lenny Woodard came off his wing to take an inside pass from scrum- half Owen Jones to race over between the posts for Mills to convert.

Jones himself then added a try when Anderson's poor kick fell straight to left wing Craig Jones, who made ground and cut inside for Owen Jones to stretch over.

But after that dominant half- hour, Pooler fell away, and with Cardiff increasing in confidence and ability the home side could easily have lost it.

Pontypool: D Smith, L Woodard, N Lewis, A Sliczney, C Jones, S Mills, O Jones, N Giles, L Jones (J Jeune 57min), N Blake, M Amos, D Cox, G Lucas (P Sargeant 73min), D Gibbs (G Donaldson 20min), A Coombes.

Scorers: tries: L Woodard, O Jones, L Jones; conversions; S Mills (2); penalties: Mills (2). Cardiff: L Andrews, E Jones, D Hewitt (L Roberts), R Jones, M Nuthall, C Anderson, R Lawson (O Ruttley 72min), G Gunter (G Morris 55min), R Price, B Evans, G Knight, J Goode, D McShane, C Purcell (J Edwards 55min), J Malpas.

Scorers: tries: penalty try, L Andrews, M Nuthall; conversions: C Anderson (2); penalty: Anderson.