LAST Saturday was, as head coach Louie Tonkin put it, just heartbreaking for Pontypool.

Tonkin’s Pooler side let slip a golden chance to secure promotion from the Swalec Championship after losing 20-17 to RGC 1404 on home turf.

Principality Premiership rugby would have been theirs for the first time since 2012 if they had avoided defeat, but a late missed penalty saw them fall short.

However, all is not lost for Pooler, with a win in their final fixture of the season tomorrow enough to make that reverse against the North Walians immaterial.

The only problem is that another team battling to go up, Bargoed, stand in their way (2.30pm).

With Merthyr and Swansea already promoted, the two remaining slots remain up for grabs.

Victory for Pontypool at Bargoed Park (2.30pm) is enough for them, but if they don’t overcome the Blues then a nervous wait to see how RGC do in their last two matches awaits – RGC go to Cardiff Met on May 7 and Glynneath on May 14.

“Last Saturday was heartbreaking,” said Tonkin. “I felt we did more than enough to win the game.

“We gave away two soft tries in the first 25 minutes but then dominated thereafter.

“They were good defensively and we missed a shot at goal which would have given us a draw and put us up.

“Rugby is an emotional sport and we had to give the boys 48 hours to recover from the game.

“We came in for training on Tuesday and I thought the boys would be a lot worse than they were.

“They were very energetic and didn’t need picking up after Saturday.”

Looking ahead to the Bargoed encounter, he added: “It’s going to be a massive game and should be very exciting, but we’re confident of going up there and getting the job done.

“We know Bargoed well and it’s a tough place to go, so we’ve got to front up and play the way we know we can.

“We know what Bargoed are about. They are formidable at home and different to the Bargoed sides of old.

“Yes, they’ve got a big and abrasive pack, but they tend to play more rugby these days with some good half-backs and wingers.

“We’ve been talking about the difference between desperation in effort and desperation in action.

“In terms of effort, it’s about putting in 110 per cent and working hard for each other. In terms of action, it’s about not forcing things and doing the simple things well.

“Everyone knows what’s at stake and we feel we’ve got enough to win if we play well.

“We haven’t discussed the possibility of not going up, it hasn’t come into our minds whatsoever.”