NEWBRIDGE and Pontypool experienced contrasting results ahead of Saturday’s first Championship derby between the clubs at the Welfare Ground, writes Terry Daley.

Hosts Newbridge will be bidding for a third successive league success after they won 19-13 at Cardiff Metropolitan University while injury-ravaged Pooler slipped to s 32-16 home defeat at the hands second-placed Swansea.

Following a 23-17 home opening-day victory over north Walians RGC1404, Newbridge;s confidence was high at the start of their clash against the students, who had lost 45-20 at Swansea on the same afternoon.

An 80 minutes later, it was Newbridge who were celebrating another triumph and they will begin against Pooler in fourth place in the 14-strong table.

“The boys did very well after working hard in training, so we are very pleased about this result,” revealed Newbridge head coach Neil Edwards.

“Our line-out was fine and although we are still ‘work in progress’ in other areas, we are looking forward to locking horns next with Pontypool.

“They lost, so they will want to step up to the mark against us. They seek Welsh Premiership status and we are under no doubt that this will be a tough challenge.”

Newbridge went into an early 7-0 advantage at the Cyncoed Campus through a try from prop forward Gareth Weaver and a conversion by full back Matthew Jones.

The hosts struck back with a touchdown of their own to make the interval score 7-5, but a five-pointer from Newbridge centre Rhys Humphries gave his side a seven-point lead for the second time.

CMU reduced the deficit again with a penalty before Newbridge stormed over for a third try, this time Luke Leddington emulating fellow-prop Weaver’s feat with Jones adding the extra two points.

The students inched closer by landing another penalty with only a couple of minutes remaining, but Newbridge had done enough to warrant the success.

Pooler entertained Swansea and were already unable to call on Alun Wyn Davies, Ryan Harford, Rob Nash, Ben Sparks, Adam Scanlon, Rhys Dyer, Dan Robinson, Chris Laing, Sione Tu’ipulotu and Gareth Rusby-Davies through injury.

Therefore losing Marc Thorley (neck), flanker Nathan Hudd (head) and number eight Jordan Williams (leg) during the Swansea game put enormous pressure on the squad ahead of the Newbridge encounter.

The trio all had to receive hospital treatment with Pooler team manager Shaun Rees bemoaning his side’s ill-luck: “We are throughly decimated by injuries and there’s no doubt the happenings against Swansea were game changers.

“We have a near-full starting line-up who are sidelined at the moment, so it’s going to be a busy week to see which ones will be fit for Saturday.

“However we always look forward to meeting out neighbours from Newbridge and we will obviously seek to return to winning ways.”

Pooler had won (26-18) for the first time in six attempts at Narberth the previous Saturday, when Swansea were enjoying a healthy 45-20 triumph over CMU.

However the west Wales visitors were always in control in terms of the scoring to post a seventh consecutive league win over Pooler, who last win in this contest 27-24 success at Pontypool Park on March 6, 2010.

Swansea bagan by playing down the ‘slope’ with Thorley departing via a stretcher as early as the 12th minute to be replaced by Pat Lewis.

Swansea went ahead with a try by captain and lock forward Sam Kiley with full back Josh Flye converting, although it was 7-3 when Pooler outside half Tom Hancock knocked over a penalty.

Flyle slotted over a similar kick, but Pooler drew level when a power play near the visitor’s line saw them awarded a penalty try to which Hancock added the bonus points to make it 10-10.

Swansea, though, right winger Andrew Claypole crossed for a try converted by full back Ian Brooks to make the interval score 17-10 - but a couple of Hancock penalties after it had Pooler trailing by just a single point.

at the interval.

Sadly, however, the injuries finally began to take their toll with Pooler unable to score again. Swansea centre Jed Evans and left winger Richard Thomas both crossed with Kyle rounding off the scoring with a conversion and a penalty.