IT may not have matched the rivalry of old or attracted a gate such as those of the 70s and 80s, but Newport and Pontypool proved at Rodney Parade on Saturday that even at the new semi-professional level local derbies can still pull them in.

A crowd of almost 5,000, better than most regional games will attract this season, rolled up to watch a match full of passion if a little short of skill.

Fans were queuing ten minutes after kick-off for tickets, both for the game, for the season and for the joint Newport/Newport Gwent Dragons offer.

And the tented village was awash with black and amber and red, black and white as rival fans mixed amicably and gave their teams a rousing reception.

Chants of Newport, Newport and Pooler, Pooler made it seem as if the clock had been turned back, and two teams whose mainly young players had not experienced such an atmosphere before were thrilled to be a part of it.

Newport won, and deservedly so in the end, but the result might just as easily have gone the other way had Pontypool not spilled at least three golden first-half try-scoring opportunities.

Outside-half Stuart Lawrence also missed with three penalties, one a sitter in front of the posts, as his team played with the commitment which had brought them through huge obstacles during the summer.

It has only been in the last couple of weeks that a full Pontypool squad has been able to train properly, but it hardly showed in the opening half.

Fiercely led by skipper Cae Trayhern, and with the whole pack responding, they ran at Newport and created chances which they fumbled on the line in the face of desperate defence.

Newport, who dominated the line-outs throughout with impressive lock Matthew Veater and flankers Gareth Gravell and Sam Waldron to the fore, had just one try-scoring chance. That was deliberately halted by Pooler wing Adam Sliczny, which resulted in ten minutes in the sin bin.

But despite territorially being outplayed, Newport led 12-6 at the interval, four penalties by former Whitland outside-half Daniel Griffiths, one a massive effort from three metres inside his own half, to two by Lawrence.

It had been largely an error-strewn half, full of kicking and the whistle of referee Clayton Thomas, who awarded a massive 33 penalties overall.

But the second half was much better, Newport sealing victory in an eleven-minute purple patch during which they scored their three fine tries.

Excellent full back Sione Tuipulotu, once of Pontypool, ran back a stray defensive kick and linked with most impressive replacement Rhys Shorney, whose superbly timed pass put right wing Craig Richards, from Bridgend, over for a debut 57th-minute try.

The same two again linked on the left-hand side of the field, and another superb Shorney pass put left wing Will Kershaw-Naylor across.

And in the 68th minute replacement prop Rhys Thomas got over from close range. Earlier, Pontypool had spurned another gilt-edged scoring opportunity when left wing Joel Griffin failed to take a high pass, but gained deserved consolation when he eventually scored eight minutes from time.

It's impossible to be certain with a new, unknown division how well these teams will perform.

But my guess is that Newport will prove good enough to finish in the top six, while Pontypool's spirit alone will ensure those people who had written them off as potential relegation candidates will be made to eat their words.