Pontypool suffered an agonising last second defeat at home to Aberavon in a pulsating close to their first block of the Super Rygbi Cymru season.
Having led 19-7 at half-time through tries from Morgan Lloyd, Carrick McDonough and Ieuan Jones, Pooler were looking good to extend their home winning run to three, especially after fly-half Kieran Meek secured the bonus point try within an hour.
It has been a mixed start to the season from Pontypool, with an opening win at home to Swansea and a superb 43-10 victory over Bridgend being the highlights, however they will be disappointed to lose against the Wizards following last weekend’s defeat at Cardiff.
Pooler's first score owed much to Dragons’ Ewan Rosser's counterattack, setting up Lloyd for a run in before Meek's chip and McDonough’s speed created their second.
Jones and Meek both went over from short range as Pontypool looked in full control.
However, Aberavon fought back superbly and after tying the game at 24-all they secured back-to-back wins following last weekend’s victory at home to RGC.
Newport and Ebbw Vale are both in action on Saturday with the Black and Ambers travelling to Bridgend while the Steelmen host Swansea.
Following last weekend’s home win v Ebbw, Newport have picked the exact same 23 with no fewer than seven Dragons involved.
Jac Lloyd and Che Hope start at half-back, while player of the match from last weekend, Barny Langton-Cryer, starts in the second row.
On the bench are Academy talents Jordan Morris, Cerrig Smith, Tiehi Chatham and Noah Morgan.
A win for Newport would see them leapfrog over Bridgend and they could rise as high as sixth if other results go their way.
One of those results would see Gwent rivals Ebbw win at home to Swansea.
The Steelmen will be looking to bounce back following their first defeat of the season and will hope to do so against a Swansea side who have already won in Gwent this season with a 42-40 defeat of Newport earlier in the season.
Ebbw have made six changes to the starting XV from last weekend with Ryan Gardner, Gruff Tough, Morgan Bosanko, Adam Court, Sion Parry and Lewis Young all coming in.
There are also places on the bench for Dragons Academy players Harry Dawes and Carter Pritchard.
Gardner and the league’s leading try-scorer Ieuan Morris will win their 50th caps in what is sure to be an entertaining contest at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium.
Newport RFC: Carwyn Penny; Morgan Williams, Iestyn Galton, Chay Foster-Smith, Finn Baker; Jac Lloyd, Che Hope; Tom Devine, Wade Langley, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Barny Langton-Cryer, Hunter Ward, Kyle Tayler, Ben Roach (c).
Replacements: Henry Palmer, Jordan Morris, Ollie Drake, Cerrig Smith, Josh Reid, Tiehi Chatham, Lucus Welch, Noah Morgan.
Ebbw Vale: Evan Lloyd; Dafydd Thomas, Ethan Phillips, Dom Franchi (c), Ryan Gardner; Dorian Jones, Gruff Tough; Morgan Bosanko, Ieuan Morris, Adam Court, Alfred Bateman Lloyd, Curtis Gregory, Jack Pope, Ben Main, Lewis Young.
Replacements: Joe Franchi, Luke Garrett, Adam Williams, Joe Rees-Weldon, Ryan Jenkins, Carter Pritchard, Dylan Edwards, Harry Dawes.
