Cardiff 10 Pontypool 17

PONTYPOOL cashed in on a series of expensive Cardiff mistakes to record a thoroughly well-deserved Arms Park victory.

The visitors showed a greater will to win, and their efforts were good enough to secure the three points needed to leap-frog over the Blue and Blacks in the Welsh Premiership Table.

And not for the first time Pooler had cause to thank the sterling efforts of their pack.

Cardiff had to wait until the 77th minute before they threatened the visitors' try-line, but even then their one chance came to nothing when left-wing Francesco Brillante was bundled into touch a metre short.

All of which will have doubled the hosts' sense of frustration, not least as they led 10-3 going into first-half injury time.

A try from full-back Leon Andrews, plus a conversion and penalty from wing Elgan Jones put them in that position, with Pooler's points coming from a Richard Jenkins penalty.

But as the interval loomed 14-man Pooler - prop Gareth Gunter had been sin-binned after 34 minutes by referee Paul Adams - counter-attacked from deep and right wing Joel Griffin crossed for a splendid try under the posts, converted by fly-half Jenkins.

No sooner was Gunter back on the field, than Pootypool's number eight Gavin Lucas swopped places with him in the bin for careless use of a boot at a ruck.

Yet Cardiff were unable to take advantage of their extra man on either occasion while full-back James Rowles' 67th- minute try goaled by Jenkins proved to be the match-winner.

Pooler coach Steve Jones paid tribute to his players, saying: "They showed great spirit."

But Jones' Cardiff counterpart, Mike Rayer, was predictably less happy with his team's performance. He said: "We just made too many silly basic errors."

Cardiff: L Andrews; E Jones, R Jones, D Tame (S Ireland 61), F Brilliante; C John (O Ruttley 54), C Miller (capt); J Yapp, R Price (M Leaman 73), D Fenton, A Luff (G Knight 67), C Stamatakis, N Hampson, M Leach, W Murphy (P de Snydar 67).

Scorers: Try - L Andrews; Con - E Jones; Pen - Jones.

Pontypool: J Rowles; D Brown, B Jeffries, A Sliczny, J Griffin (L McCabe 75); R Jenkins, G Jenkins (N Lloyd 66); J Viner (G Mason 63), R Miller (N Giles 46), G Gunter, M Collins, C Powell (L Edwards 82), D Ogg, G Lucas, A Howarth (capt).

Scorers: Tries - J Griffin, J Rowles; Cons - R Jenkins (2); Pen - Jenkins.