The home side went into the interval 17-0 up following a brilliant start to the game and although they were pegged back in the second half, the Black and Ambers held on for a 20-19 win.
Newport enjoyed an early share of possession but both sides were committed to playing an attacking game.
The visitors looked the most likely to open the scoring but Newport winger Alan Awcock intercepted a pass in his own twenty-two and raced clear for an opportunist try. Scott Sneddon converted to give his side a 7-0 lead.
Pontypridd responded with a concerted phase of pressure but were held up short of scoring. Working off a solid set piece, Dale McIntosh’s side had plenty of opportunities but failed to engineer a score and fell further behind when Sneddon added a penalty.
Like his team, Sneddon was enjoying a brilliant first-half and he soon added a try himself, sniping through the Pontypridd defence to extend the lead. The fly-half kicked the extra two points leaving the visitors shocked as they went into the interval 17-0 down.
Seeking a way back into the game, the visitors were not helped when flanker Tom Hetherington was sin binned for a technical offence.
The game was into its final quarter before Ponty finally clicked, launching a sweeping back line move for pacey winger Lewis Williams to cross for a try. Full-back Geraint Walsh added the conversion though the revival was cut short as Sneddon added another penalty.
Although they had struggled throughout the game, Pontypridd pushed the home side all the way and following a close range drive from their pack, prop Scott Roberts went over before a counter attack from deep, spearheaded by a Dafydd Lockyer break, was rounded off with a try for winger Owen Williams. Walsh converted to narrow his side’s deficit to a single point.
Ponty were now throwing everything at the home defence, Lockyer attempting a snap drop goal which he skewed wide as his side dominated the last few minutes.
But Newport’s defence held firm to secure the victory.
