Jac Lloyd’s penalty after 70 minutes secured Newport a 38-35 Gwent derby victory from behind over Pontypool at Rodney Parade in Super Rygbi Cymru.
The outside half’s kick was the first time in the match Newport led – and was ultimately the difference as they held on to boost their hopes of pipping Pooler for fourth place and guaranteeing a home play-off.
Pooler shot out of the blocks and were 21-0 with little more than 21 minutes played thanks to tries from scrum-half Morgan Lloyd, centre Pat Lewis and wing Ewan Rosser – with Kieran Meek adding the extras to all three of them.
The Black & Ambers were stunned into action and responded through winger Oli Andrew’s try on 25 minutes, which Lloyd converted.
Captain and No 8 Ben Roach scored again for Newport three minutes before the break, converted by Lloyd, but Meek’s penalty right on half time sent the visitors in 24-14 up.
Pooler were first on the scoreboard two minutes after the re-start with Lewis grabbing his second and their fourth try.
Meek missed with the conversion attempt but, when he did successfully land a drop goal on 52 minutes, Pooler were 32-14 to the good. But back came Newport.
Scrum-half Che Hope and Andrew – his second try of the match – were over before the hour mark, both improved by Lloyd to pull Newport back to within four points.
Meek sent over his second penalty after 62 minutes but three minutes later the match was level when replacement Ioan Davies scored Newport’s fourth try, converted by Lloyd.
Lloyd then nailed a kick off the tee with 10 minutes remaining as Pooler fell behind for the first time – and they were unable to recover.
The win gives Newport an eight-point cushion over Pooler with three regular rounds of matches to play over the next three weekends, before the post-season play-offs begin at the end of April. The sides who finish in fourth and fifth will be paired together in the play-offs with the side in fourth having home advantage.
The race for top spot looks set to go right down to the wire. Cardiff currently sit top of the pile with a five-point lead over Ebbw Vale.
However, the Steelmen do still have a game in hand on the capital club – which is a trip to Aberavon scheduled for 16 April, ahead of the final round of matches.