RARELY can a pair of bonus points have felt so sickening.

Pontypool, who are still without a win this season, can put a positive spin on their clash at Bridge Field and it is true that they have cut the gap to many of their fellow strugglers and stopped Bedwas getting away from them.

However, they played some enterprising rugby and scored four tries to their hosts’ two, only to shoot themselves in the foot with costly errors and ill- discipline.

Five points were there for the taking against a Bedwas side that were not at their best and who were in the end grateful for the metronomic kicking of fly-half Gethin Worgan.

His efforts from the kicking tee were worth 25 points, while Pontypool’s Geraint O’Driscoll, who had taken over responsibility in the absence of the injured Steve Taylor, was not quite as accurate.

The full-back missed with ten points’ worth of kicks to Worgan’s six. The difference between the sides after 80 minutes was four.

It should be noted that a number of O’Driscoll’s shots at goal were from out wide, but he also struck both the left and right posts with penalties in the first half from very kickable spots – when your luck is out even the woodwork is against you.

Few would argue that Saturday’s clash produced vintage rugby, but it was definitely entertaining. The momentum shifted from one side to the other, neither seeming to want to grasp their chance to stretch away.

At times in the second half it looked as if Bedwas would win comfortably, only to allow Pooler to get a foot in the door.

Prime culprit was their eventual hero, with Worgan twice booting the ball over the dead ball line from his 22 to give the visitors prime attacking positions when they had been on the rack, a pair of errors that would cost a try and a penalty.

It was the hosts who started with the wind in their sails, despite playing into the breeze. Centre Kristian Owen, Worgan and lock James Murphy charged into enemy territory and the fly-half helped himself to a penalty and drop goal.

It took 20 minutes for Pooler to get going, and after a superb break by impressive number eight Morgan Allen the ball was worked to the left wing where centre Phil Price knocked on going for the line under pressure from Newport Gwent Dragons openside James Harris.

Bedwas were hustled into errors and O’Driscoll punished them with a pair of penalties before Pooler struck with a cracking try on 34 minutes.

Centre Dan Robinson popped the ball up to fly-half Sam Mills on halfway, and moved it on to O’Driscoll, who did likewise to get the ball to speed merchant Dan Connolly. The wing stretched out to dot down in the left corner despite the efforts of former Ebbw Vale duo Andrew McLaughlan and Owen, who was a touch high with his tackle.

But 11-6 to the visitors became 16-11 to the hosts at the break courtesy of another Worgan penalty and a well-taken try by wing Lee Pearson after good work by scrum-half Tom Dickens from turnover ball.

The opening ten minutes of the second half were something of a shambles, albeit an entertaining one.

Worgan nudged over another penalty, lock Sam Pailor finished expertly in the corner for Pooler after more good work from Allen and then Owen went over under the sticks for Bedwas from a fly-hack after Mills could only get his fingertips to a pass high above his head from scrum-half Calwyn Morgan.

Pontypool heads could easily have gone down but they kept battling and a patient approach paid off when Robinson crossed in the corner on 58 minutes, though the Bedwas tackling left plenty to be desired.

The momentum shifted once again with another Worgan penalty, and once more when Pooler bagged their bonus point on 65 minutes.

Their drive from a close-range lineout was stopped short, but neat handling from Morgan and Mills allowed prop Nicky Blake to be an unlikely hero.

O’Driscoll converted expertly from wide on the left and then booted a penalty with ten minutes left to inch Pooler back in front at 31-29.

But the visitors failed to keep on the right side of referee Huw David and gave Worgan the chance to regain the lead with seven minutes left.

Pooler could not manage another momentum shift and Worgan applied the last blow when he kicked his sixth and final penalty from the last play of the game.

The haves and have-nots have already separated in the Premiership; the six that are in this season’s British and Irish Cup have built a gap along with leaders Swansea.

Only time will tell how crucial Pooler’s two points and Bedwas’ four will be in the battle at the bottom.

Bedwas: A McLaughlan, M Pizey (J Bird 40), K Owen , T Cooper, L Pearson, G Worgan, T Dickens (S Jones 59), P Price, A Fowler, K Jenkins, J Murphy, A Tibbatts, S Gardner (captain, L Dyckoff 59), P Sargent.

Scorers: Tries – L Pearson, K Owen; conversions – G Worgan (2); penalties – G Worgan (6); drop goal – G Worgan.

Pontypool: G O’Driscoll, G Williams, D Robinson, P Price, D Connolly, S Mills (captain), C Morgan, N Giles (J Jeune 59), R Buckley, N Blake (A Williams 62), S Pailor, K Maiden, M Barber (R Bowen 57), R Watkins, M Allen.

Scorers: Tries – D Connolly, S Pailor, D Robinson, N Blake; conversion – G O’Driscoll; penalties – G O’Driscoll (3).

Referee: Huw David (Bridgend).

Argus star man: Morgan Allen.