TIME seemed to stand still for a few minutes at the end of Pontypool's 53-9 victory over Beddau as players, officials and supporters held their breath waiting for the result of closest rivals Caerphilly's final match at Llanharan.

Then a wave of joy swept across Pontypool Park as news of Llanharan's victory was announced, thus confirming that Pooler had clinched promotion to the Welsh Premiership as Division One East champions.

Kenneth Hewitt, vice-chairman of the board of directors of WRU, was on hand to present captain Leighton Jones with a cut-glass bowl for the champions as the familiar "Pooler Pooler" chant rang around the ground.

Delighted Pontypool RFC managing director Frank Stanton - an inspiring leader in his own right - said: "Promotion has been a long time coming but you can see from the reaction of the crowd what this means to everyone in the town and the players.

"It's nice to see so many smiles back on the faces because it has been a long couple of seasons away from the top flight for us.

"We're going to enjoy the moment and then get back to planning for next season. It will be great to get the likes of Neath, Cardiff and Ebbw Vale back at the Park because we really do belong in the Premiership."

Pontypool were superior in every phase of play against Beddau who, in contrast, were facing the prospect of possible relegation if results elsewhere had gone against them.

The visitors had trouble in particular in the scrums where the home front row of Jamie Jeune, Jones and Nicky Blake ruled the roost, while young lock Sam Pailor and No 8 Cae Trayhern were outstanding in the tight and loose. Behind the scrum, inside-half Gareth Betts and centre Geraint O'Driscoll were prominent as efficient ball distributors.

Pooler were somewhat generously awarded a penalty try in the 16th minute when a scrum near the Beddau line broke up, although it was by no means clear which side was really at fault.

The home team went on to add another six touchdowns through wings Dan Robinson and Nathan Preece, who each scored two apiece, O'Driscoll and Trayhern.

O'Driscoll also kicked two penalty goals and two conversions to end with a personal match total of 15 points. Full back Gary Wilks (3) and outside-half Dan Phillips also added conversions.

Beddau - not a shadow of the major force they were in the division last season - could only manage three penalty goals from the boot of hard-working outside-half James Balfrey. His third penalty came with the final kick of the first half when Pooler led 26-9.

Three players had spells in the sin-bin - home prop Blake and opposite number Geraint Liddon, a former Pontypool player, after fists flew at a scrum in the ninth minute. Then Beddau inside-half Rhys Edwards was shown a yellow card in first-half injury time.

It was the third time this season for Pooler to top the 50 points mark, having also rattled up the half-century in the home games against Newport Saracens and Llantrisant.

Not surprisingly, the details of this match paled into insignificance when the news of Caerphilly's plight at Llanharan came through. That's when Pooler really began to celebrate!

Pontypool head coach Gareth Lintern said after the match: "It's a strange feeling now because this is what we have been working towards for two seasons. We wanted to beat Beddau and they made things difficult for us in the first quarter. The fact that we are now champions and have secured promotion hasn't really sunk in yet but we're all delighted."

Beddau team manager Ashley Copic said: "Pontypool were far better than us on the day and that is reflected in the final score line. We wish them every success in the Premiership next season because that's where they really belong."

Pontypool: G Wilks (P Price 49); D Robinson, G O'Driscoll, R Jenkins, N Preece; D Phillips, G Betts (M Birkby 66); J Jeune, L Jones, capt (J Cross 64), N Blake (J Chaperon 70), S Pailor, J Williams, G Donaldson, R Nash and C Trayhern.

Tries: Penalty try (16 mins), N Preece (26 and 80+2 mins), D Robinson (40+3 and 75 mins), G O'Driscoll (19 mins) and C Trayhern (52 mins); penalties: G O'Driscoll (72 and 78 mins); cons: G Wilks (3), G O'Driscoll (2) and D Phillips.

Beddau: S Robinson; E Pellegrotti, D Palk, N Walters (D Busuttil 76), H Williams (A Daly 69); J Balfrey, R Edwards; G Liddon (G Morgan 59) R Cleverley (R Lewis 60), S Wilde (G Liddon 64) C Bundy, capt., C Chorley, R Jones, T Guy and G Slater.

Pens: J Balfrey (21, 29 and 40+5 mins).

Referee: Phil Connett (Hafodrynys).

l Pontypool complete their league programme with two further matches at Fleur-de-Lys on Wednesday and home to Rumney on Saturday.