PONTYPOOL gained a hard-earned win in the frost against their fellow strugglers.

But they had a great escape two minutes from the end when Cardiff outside half Chris Anderson missed a 23-metre straight penalty after Pooler were caught offside.

Ironically Anderson had landed all his four earlier penalties.

Pooler coach David Gray said: "We deserved a bit of luck. But I thought we played the better rugby in the second half."

Skipper Gavin Lucas said: "We made mistakes in the first half to trail 6-3 by the interval.

"But I agree we came good in the second half."

Pooler spilt the ball three times in Cardiff's '22' in the first half when their only points came from a penalty by centre Adam Sliczny.

Sliczny added a second penalty four minutes after the interval before Cardiff again edged ahead 9-6 a minute later.

Then came a superb try by flanker Gavin Donaldson as he tapped a sweeping move up the right flank in the 53rd minute.

Sliczny converted but Pooler nerves were shaken as Sliczny missed a 58th minute penalty from 25 metres and a reasonable angle.

Victory checked a run of one draw - at Bedwas - and four defeats.

It was Pooler's third win in 12 league games this season after beating Llandovery at home and Maesteg away.

It was also only their second home league win over Cardiff in eight attempts.

They also beat them at the Park last season 25-22.

Lucas, Donaldson and Lloyd Burns set a great standard in the back row. The Pooler front row also made their presence felt in the second half and significantly Cardiff had changed all their front row by the last quarter.

Scrum half Owen Jones astutely supported his pack while both Lucas and lock Matthew Amos won good line out ball.

Pontypool's next task is away to Newport next Friday. But they will settle for this win - and the stroke of luck provided by Anderson's miss.

Scorers: Pontypool: Try: G Donaldson; conversion: A Sliczny; penalty goals: Sliczny (2);

Cardiff: Penalty goals: C Anderson (4).