Pontypool 31 Newport 19

FOR Pontypool, it was all about winning whereas, in Newport's case, this was about giving their youngsters a chance because they had no choice with so many senior players absent.

Pontypool have got to go that extra mile and pip big rivals Aberavon to the winning post for promotion back into the top flight this season.

And they look as though they can make it too. Not only have they strengthened their squad further with players of the calibre of John Devereux and Kevin Ellis, but they have a crop of promising youngsters to call on. It was not quite like the old days, although a crowd of around 3,000 were there on a Saturday in early August to watch a friendly.

"There is a massive appetite in Pontypool and the target is to get back up there. We'd have big crowds every time," said coach Steve Jones.

"We've got lots of experience but we've got lots of young boys too. The average age of our front row was 22.

"The important thing is to get there before the WRU move the goalposts again."

But Jones added realistically: "We know Newport were in dire straits and if they came up here with their number one side, they would put us down."

Opposite number and brother-in-law Leigh Jones stressed: "The result was insignificant, that will be more important later. We had seven or eight under-21s involved and it was a good test for them.

"Pontypool had a different mindset from us. They wanted to win, we wanted to try a few youngsters."

But Newport need to get their injured players back soon -- Ofisa Tonu'u, Shane Howarth, Hal Luscombe, Jason Jones-Hughes and Ian Gough all watched, as did skipper Simon Raiwalui and Andy Marinos who weren't considered.

Matt Mostyn, Jonathan Pritchard, Chris Anthony, Jason Forster and Gareth Gravell were all away for one reason or another.

The side that did take the field were shown the way, especially in a quickfire spell which displayed the new and the old Pooler.

Full-back David Smith arrowed through and sent wing Jonathan Williams racing over as he showed Matt Pini and youngster Matt Rowlands a clean pair of heels for the try of the match

Then the Pooler pack blasted Newport out of the way at a line-out for Mark Jones to power over.

Newport, who were awarded a penalty try for a deliberate knock-on, had promising youngsters in Luke Charteris and Rhys Jones while Adrian Garvey carried on where he left off last season.

Scorers. Pontypool: tries: Lee McPherson (2), Stuart Lawrence, Jonathan Williams, Mark Jones; conversions: Byron Hayward (2), Lawrence.

Newport: tries: Adrian Garvey, David Warwick, penalty try; conversions: Jason Strange (2).

* In the picture: Newport's Andy Powell is held as he tries to make a break.