Ebbw Vale completed the second leg of their Christmas derby double-header against Pontypool on the 27th of December in an absolute cracker at Pontypool Park.
Following a six-try 40-15 win at the Ciner Glass stadium on the 20th of December, the two sides met again with Pooler leading at half-time, only to see league leaders Ebbw Vale run away in the final half hour.
The Steelmen eventually scored eight tries, with Pontypool grabbing six of their own in a hugely entertaining 38-52 win for Ebbw.
After Ebbw had taken the lead through a try from Sion Parry, Pooler responded almost straight from kick off with try-scorer in the away fixture Harri Ford producing a half-break and flicking a pass through the back door to a streaking Evan Minto to score.
Pooler then scored three unanswered tries through Pat Lewis, Morgan Jones and Carrick McDonough to grab their four-try bonus point.
Ebbw responded in kind with three tries either side of half-time through Ryan Jenkins, Ieuan Morris and Morgan Richards to take the lead at 26-28.
Pooler substitute Joel Mahoney and Ebbw replacements Joe Franchi exchanged tries before Gruff Tough and Ewan Bowden gave the visiting side a 14-point lead into the final few minutes.
A late Ellis Davies score and a Harri Ford try offered hope for Pooler but Bowden’s second score ensured Ebbw took home five-points.
Elsewhere, Newport also completed their own festive double as they backed up a home 54-24 defeat of RGC with 34-40 win at Stadiwm Eirias in Colwyn Bay.
Dragons centre Harri Ackerman started both games, scoring a brace in the home leg as one of eight tries while a brace each from Henry Palmer and Lloyd Lewis, including one straight from the restart, helped the Black and Ambers to a six-try win away from home.
Ioan Rhys Davies’ try seven minutes from time completed the win for Newport who had trailed 34-26 early into the second half.
Eleven points from a possible twelve across the festive period ensures that Newport are now inside the top four while the same results for Ebbw Vale now means they are top by 14 points with a game in hand on second placed Llandovery.
Next up Ebbw head to second placed Llandovery in a top of the table clash on the 3rd of January, 5.15pm kick off, in a game which will be live on S4C while Pontypool head to Bridgend at the earlier kick off time of 2:30pm.
Newport meanwhile play host to Carmarthen Quins also with a 2:30pm kick off time.
