Pontypool 23 Carmarthen Quins 20

CHRISTMAS may be over, but Pontypool were still in the giving mood. Unfortunately for their fans the present wasn't tries as they gave away a suicidal number of penalties against Carmarthen Quins at Pontypool Park on Saturday.

Gwent's sleeping giants conceeded a near fatal 28 penalties in a match littered with poor discipline and basic errors. Even more disheartening than the penalty count was the mammoth backward step Pooler had taken in the lineout. Tuned to perfection just three days earlier against Glamorgan Wanderers, they were back to their old ways with devastating costs.

Pontypool had no problems moving the ball forward though the Quins did give as good as they got, but in key pressure situations in the opposition's 22 they failed to capitalise on their own line-out. Starved of the ball, Pooler's backs looked tense and rushed with possession, probably because they knew their options of attack had been cut thanks to their forwards' inept showing.

The Quins looked dangerous in the lineout marshalled by ex-Wales international Paul Arnold. Yet throughout, Pooler's flat line of defence tackled valiantly, with forwards and backs always hitting the ball in numbers.

Both teams looked to spread the ball early on and Pontypool took the lead with a Byron Hayward penalty after full back Stuart Lawrence was tackled without the ball.

The Quins drew level through outside half Gareth Jones. But Pontypool regained the lead, again through Hayward, and extended it with the game's first try before the break.

A quickly-taken penalty by Tongan power house Manu Tu'ipulotu saw fellow countryman Uiniati Moa smash over. The Pacific Island pair are clearly a key cog in the Pontypool machine and a big this success story this season.

Leading 13-3, Pontypool extended their lead in the second half with a penalty try after Carmarthen illegally interfered with the ball in the maul close to their line.

But despite a 10-point lead Pooler still looked uncomfortable. Kuli Faletau replaced Mike Powell to try to stabilise the line-out, but made little impact.

Ben Jefferies did, however, inject some much needed beef into the midfield and proved a success.

The penalties still soared, referee David Davies citing two Pontypool players for continually offending.

As the game sat nervously on a knife edge Carmarthen rallied hard, scoring two tries by substitutes Danzi Niblo and Rhys Jones. But Pooler hung in for three points that were more bitter than sweet.

"I will be speaking to the two players cited by the ref. Without so many penalties we could have won by 40," coach Steve Jones said.