LEIGHTON Jones expects Pontypool to be fired up by frustration as they attempt to respond to a first Championship disappointment of the season by securing the title on home soil this afternoon.

Pooler entertain Glamorgan Wanderers (kick-off 2.30pm) on the back of a 30-22 upset against Cardiff Met in Cyncoed.

That ended their hopes of succeeding where Ebbw Vale and Merthyr failed by going through the Championship season with a perfect record but they still have the silverware to secure.

“There’s no better place to be than the Park with the chance to win the title on home turf,” said head coach Jones.

“The boys are hurt and their pride is dented after last week, so this is a chance for them to redeem themselves.

“We hadn’t spoken about going unbeaten because we know that in this league anyone can turn anyone over. Other people have been talking about it, so in a way a bit of pressure is gone, but there’s still the league to win.”

The loss to the Students was a first disappointment of a campaign that has featured 18 league successes plus a National Cup run that saw them win at Llanelli and Cardiff before Cross Keys beat them in the quarter-finals.

The failure to hit the standards of the campaign smarts more than the result at Cyncoed, according to Jones.

“We just didn’t turn up,” said the former hooker. “The players have been brutally honest about what went wrong and I am looking for a response.

“I expect a totally different mindset and attitude because Cardiff Met dominated all aspects of the game.

“To be fair they were really good and had done their homework and deserved the win. They were loaded and prepared but we didn’t combat what they were doing, which isn’t like us.

“I expect us to be back to the levels we have been at this season and we will need to be because Glamorgan Wanderers are a decent team.

“They caused us problems earlier in the season and it will be a tough test but I’d expect us to have the right attitude.”

Pooler won 47-11 when the sides met in Ely in November after leading just 14-8 at half-time.

While Jones’ team are looking to secure the title, Newbridge are bidding to move away from the drop zone and drag more teams into a relegation tussle.

The second-from-bottom side would have been disappointed to hear that Cardiff Met upset Pooler after they had themselves recorded an excellent 29-13 victory against Skewen.

‘Bridge have won three on the spin but remain 11th with just three fixtures left – at seventh-placed Glynneath this afternoon, home to the sixth-placed Wanderers and away to Narberth.

With seven teams from fifth-placed Newcastle Emlyn to Newbridge separated by just nine points, the Gwent side can make it a fascinating run-in if they stay in the winning habit at Abernant Park.

‘Bridge edged out Glynneath 15-13 when the sides met at the Welfare Ground in February.

Standings

1 Pontypool P19, 84pts

2 Narberth P19, 72pts

3 Beddau P21, 65pts

4 Tata Steel P19, 64pts

5 Newcastle Emlyn P19, 43pts

6 Glamorgan W P20, 41pts

7 Glynneath P20, 40pts

8 Skewen P20, 39pts

9 Bedlinog P19, 39pts

10 Cardiff Met P20, 37pts

11 Newbridge P19, 34pts

12 Dunvant P19, 14pts

Fixtures: Bedlinog v Cardiff Met, Dunvant v Beddau, Glynneath v Newbridge, Pontypool v Glamorgan Wanderers, Skewen v Newcastle Emlyn, Tata Steel v Narberth