Newport and Ebbw Vale remain in the hunt for top spot of the Super Rygbi Cymru going into the international break following round eight.
The Black and Ambers earned a narrow two point win at Carmarthen Quins on Friday night while Ebbw Vale took two losing bonus points home from a narrow defeat at table toppers Cardiff.
Elsewhere, injury-hit Pontypool suffered a 49-19 defeat at RGC in a game which was a poignant one, with the home side paying tribute to former player Jack Davies who sadly passed away recently.
Newport’s tries came from centre Joe Salter, Josh Skinner and Gethyn Cannon, with young flyhalf Llew O’Brien perfect off the tee as the Black and Ambers clung on.
The game was a big one for scrumhalf Dafydd Buckland who made his 100th Newport appearance, while a trio of Dragons players featured in Noah Morgan, Sam Morgan and Tiehi Chatham.
Newport now sit third in the SRC, five points behind Cardiff, having played a game fewer than the Blue and Blacks.
In second are Ebbw Vale, who led 14-22 at half time through a Ryan Jenkins hattrick and seven points off the tee from Tom Howard.
Cardiff fought back however, taking the lead before Jon Evans’ converted score levelled the scores for the Steelmen.
A 77th minute penalty gave Cardiff the win meaning they top the table, four points ahead of Ebbw who included Dragons Academy prop Regan Jones among their replacements.
Dragons Academy trio George Tuckley, Tiaan Hall and Rhys Cole all started for Pontypool with scrumhalf Monty Jones making his debut from the bench alongside Scott Crewe and Jake Sheppard.
RGC raced into a 28-7 half-time lead with Pooler’s reply coming through backrower Ben Williams.
Second half scored for Pooler pair Marcus Jones and Sheppard meant Pooler came within touching distance of a four-try bonus-point but were just unable to get over the line late on.
The sides now break for a few weeks before the return of the SRC on the 20th of November.
All three Gwent sides are back home on the 21st with Ebbw hosting Carmarthen Quins, while Newport and Pontypool welcome Swansea and Aberavon respectively.
It promises to be an exciting block of fixtures which include Gwent derbies with Newport welcoming the Steelmen on the 10th of December before a double-header between Pooler and Ebbw either side of Christmas.
Newport: Sam Morgan; Fin Baker, Chay Foster-Smith, Joe Salter, Noah Morgan; Llew O’Brien, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Devine, Henry Palmer, Ollie Drake, Joe Peard, Callum Bradbury, Josh Skinner, Hunter Ward, Ben Roach (c).
Replacements: Wade Langley, Ed Thompson, Luke Yendle, Gethyn Cannon, Josh Reid, Tiehi Chatham, Lucus Welch, Steff Davies.
Ebbw Vale: Morgan Rees; Ewan Bowden, Ethan Phillips, Cam Davies, Dafydd Thomas; Tom Howard, Rory Harries; Luke Garrett, Ieuan Morris, Morgan Bosanko, Dylan Bartlett, Alfred Bateman Lloyd, Ben Main, Sion Parry (c), Ryan Jenkins.
Replacements: Liam Lewis, Regan Jones, Adam Williams, Dylan Burrows, Joe Rees-Weldon, Jon Evans, Dorian Jones, Dom Franchi.
Pontypool: Carrick McDonough; Rhys Cole, Pat Lewis, Kieran Meek (c), Marcus Jones; Evan Lloyd, Ellis Lewis; George Tuckley, Tiaan Hall, Harri Rock, Lance Randall, Liam Antrobus, Luke Daniel, Ben Williams, Morgan Allen.
Replacements: Ben Williams, Tom Sims, Scott Crewe, Buster Bodkin, Dan Hill, Monty Jones, Scott Matthews, Jake Sheppard.
