NEWPORT coach Leigh Jones claimed last night's pulsating victory by his Welsh Premier Division leaders showed the gap between the division and regional rugby was closing.

Newport could not rest until the final whistle in defence of their unbeaten home record against visitors unbeaten in their previous ten league and cup games.

It was thrill-a-minute rugby as both sides threw caution to the winds, Newport perhaps too much so at times as they gifted Pontypridd an interception try, but it was the kind of fare to cheer up any fan.

Jones said: "For the first time this season I saw a dramatic closing between this level and regional rugby.

"The Premier Division's a great shop window and hopefully we can keep closing the gap. If the coaches and players keep working hard, we'll do that.

"From my perspective, perhaps we played a little bit too much rugby. We should have played with a bit more control a times."

Had Newport not played so loosely and had scrum half Llyr Lane been more decisive with his decision-making, the victory margin might have been greater.

Twice Lane failed to exploit overlaps while his telegraphed pass handed Pontypridd wing Neil Boobyer a 38th-minute try which outside half Chris Langmead converted for a 24-22 half time lead.

In the second half Pontypridd had only one clear-cut chance, but somehow squandered a 3-1 overlap inside the Newport 22.

In that second half replacement wing Craig Richards seized on Daniel Griffiths' astute kick for his 24th try of the season while the outside half added a decisive 76th-minute penalty after two misses.

In the first half the lead changed five times, full back Richard Davies twice joining the line at pace to set up tries for flanker Sam Waldron and wing James Taylor. Chris Thomas grabbed the third try, Griffiths converting two and adding a penalty.

Flanker Mark Lewis grabbed Pontypridd's first try after Newport had lost the ball near their 22 and as well as Boobyer's interception, Langmead and full back Lloyd Warner dropped goals and Langmead kicked two penalties.

The dropped goals came after Pontypridd skipper Lee Beach had been yellow-carded with Newport 15-11 ahead and in the second half Pontypridd replacements Ryan Harford and Ieuan Dobbs and Waldron were also yellow-carded.

Newport: R Davies, C Thomas, (C Richards 40min), R Shorney, S Williams, J Taylor (W Kershaw-Naylor 40min), D Griffiths, L Lane (O Jones 71min), D Pattison, G Horigan (S Cronk 67min), G Robinson, S Martin, M Veater, S Waldron, G Gravell, R Jones. Scorers: tries: Waldron, Taylor, Thomas, Richards; cons: Griffiths (2); pens: Griffiths (2).

Pontypridd: L Warner, D Berry, T Reilly, J Lewis (D Lockyer 68min), N Boobyer, R Langmead, C Thomas (P John 72min), G Cox (I Dobbs 49 min), P Riordan (S Williams 65min), I Jones (R Harford 49min), C Martenko, G Harrington, M Lewis, N Coles (D Godfrey 49min), L Beach. Scorers: tries: M Lewis, Boobyer; conversion: Langmead; pens: Langmead (2); dropped goals: Langmead, Warner.