PONTYPOOL eventually made it through to the Konica Minolta Cup fifth round at the second attempt against Division Three south east minnows Nantymoel.

However, Pooler made hard work of breaking down their plucky opponents before finally getting over the try-line on the half-hour.

But the victory was spoiled somewhat because of a double dismissal, when Pooler centre Neil Lewis and Nantymoel lock Lee Blower were part of a mass brawl that erupted 13 minutes after two other players, Pontypool prop Julian Viner and opposition wing Richard Berezai, were sin-binned after a previous punch-up.

Cowbridge referee Scott Fleming could, however, easily have sent a few others to the bin, at least, as other brawls littered the game, but didn't.

Pontypool coach Steve Jones said of the incidents: "It was just two spats and that's all."

The Gwent outfit were, though, in a no-win situation. If they beat Nantymoel comfortably, which they did, then they were expected to do so. If they lost, then it was a shock.

Jones, though, praised the way the minnows went about their task, adding: "We scored a couple of tries, but that's not taking anything away from Nantymoel."

Nantymoel looked liable to cause a similar upset to that which Brynmawr inflicted on Cardiff six days earlier as poor Pooler put themselves under the cosh through missed passes, dropped balls and even, once, the ball 'nutmegging' a player - we won't name him, to save his embarrassment!

Nantymoel almost went over when number eight Dai Stacey charged through the home 22, and only by being knocked into touch was he prevented from scoring.

Once Pooler started scoring, via a try on the half-hour from centre Ben Jefferies, who had an excellent match, Nantymoel had had it.

Pooler went 12-3 up at half-time, with outside-half Stuart Lawrence converting Jefferies' touchdown, and wing Luke McCabe adding another unconverted effort against a solitary penalty from Nantymoel outside-half Mark Jones.

A lovely try from full-back David Smith, plus a Lawrence conversion and penalty put Pontypool 19 points up, which signalled the start of the Joel Griffin show.

The winger roared over almost unopposed for his first after a 50-yard sprint down the field and, after Nantymoel flanker Iolo Hunnam had dived over for a try at a close maul on the home line, Griffin added a second.

Replacement Sam Mills' injury- time penalty shot was a bit like time-wasting, but Pooler, who have been on a poor run lately, have started the new year on the right foot.

Pontypool: D Smith (D Brown, 74mins), J Griffin, B Jefferies, N Lewis, L McCabe, S Lawrence (S Mills, 73mins), G Jenkins (N Hope, 71mins), J Viner (sin-binned. Fighting. 47mins), R Miller, G Gunter, M Collins, D Cox, L Taylor, A Howarth (capt), D Gibbs (L Hunter. 51mins). Scorers: Tries - B Jefferies, L McCabe, D Smith, J Griffin (2). Pens - S Lawrence, S Mills. Cons - S Lawrence (2). Nantymoel: M Richards, R Berezai, I Rees, G Edwards, T Smith, M Jones (G Pearce 74mins), J Williams (capt. T Williams 56mins), G Baylis (A Issac 58mins), S Hunnam, W Adams, J Newman, L Blower, I Hunnam, K James, D Stacey. Scorers: Try - I Hunnam. Pen - M Jones.