Fight club

Four sizzling Pooler tries were met with a tepid two penalties from the hosts as Gray's men scorched to a 25-6 win.

And the margin of victory would have been even greater had centre Adam Sliczney been a hotter-shot and succeeded with more than one of his four conversion attempts. The freezing weather did little to quell the tempers of either side in a fiery encounter that threatened to boil over on numerous occasions.

After several heated exchanges - including a mass-brawl that broke out in only the fifth minute - both sides were reduced to 14 men quarter of an hour into the second half as former Pontypool hooker, Leighton Jones and Pooler prop Julian Viner were sent off for fighting.

The form book showed these teams were poles apart before kick-off with Newport having lost only once at home in 33 months and Pooler winning just once in six Welsh Premiership away trips this season.

But it was the home side that was caught cold as Pooler steamed into a 15-3 interval lead.

Sliczney gave the visitors a three-point advantage when he slotted over a penalty in the third minute before Aled Thomas levelled for Newport with a kick 23 minutes later.

Pooler full back David Smith - who received a frosty reception having once played for the Black and Ambers - regained the advantage for his side when he crossed to score.

And two minutes before half time Pooler were further in front when flanker Lloyd Burns made a blistering run through the Newport defence to score a try that Siczney Converted.

Pooler increased their lead five minutes into the second half when Woodard touched down a Smith chip before Gavin Donaldson completed the scoring when he grounded after a Pontypool drive.

Newport managed only a solitary Thomas penalty in reply, sandwiched in between their opponents' two second-half scores.

A fact that left a no-doubt chilled Pooler coach glowing with pride after the final whistle.

"The players were superb," said Gray. "I had a good feeling all week that we were going to do something special.

"Fair dos we fronted up and thoroughly deserved the win. "We took the game to them. It was a committed performance but then it always is against Newport.

"We had more of a cutting edge about us and kept possession well." Despite the result coming as a shock to many neutrals, Gray claimed he was unsurprised by the showing.

"We've got a good team and all the team needs is a bit of confidence. "We won against Cardiff and now we've got a second consecutive win. "The team are starting to play how we want them to play.

"There was a good attitude throughout the game and the players are all starting to believe in themselves.

"We scored four tries but only put one conversion over so it could quite easily have been 30 points."

Looking ahead to Saturday's Cup game against Carmarthen, Gray is aware that complacency might creep into his side now they appear to have turned the corner.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground," he added. "The real test is if the players can get up for the game next week because they should all be able to get up for a local derby."

After Friday's fixture rumours that Gray had resigned began to circulate but the Pooler boss is keen to stress that there is no truth to them. "I've come to Pontypool with a three or four year plan in place," he said. "I want to make Pontypool one of the best clubs around, but that doesn't happen overnight.

"I know some people have questioned my loyalty and the start of the season has been difficult but we'll keep on plugging away." Nathan Daniel, who was stretchered off against Newport, is not thought to be seriously injured and should return to action in the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, centre Scot Williams will be missing from the Pooler squad to face Carmarthen after being asked to spend a week training with the Gwent Dragons.