The club’s former scrum half was delighted after his side finally got a result to match a performance having narrowly missed out on wins in the previous two rounds.
He said: “All the boys deserve praise for the effort they put in, especially as we came into the game on the back of a narrow defeat against Ebbw Vale.
“This has to be marked down as our best victory of the season, but more to the point it has provided the team with belief.”
Neath opened the scoring with a try from winger Aled Bevan but Ponty replied through Rhys Shellard to make it 5-5 at the break. Replacement fullback Howard Thomas put Neath back in front with a try midway into the second half but that only served to spark Ponty into life and Gavin Dacey’s try, along with a penalty and a conversion from outside half Neil Burnett, were enough to give them the points.
Ebbw Vale missed out on the chance to go level with Neath at the top as the bonus point eluded them in their 12-11 win at Newport.
The Steelmen were four minutes away from losing the match all together before referee Phil Fear awarded them a penalty try for a collapsed maul which, along with Simon Hunt’s conversion, gave them the match.
Earlier a Matthew Veater try and two Dan Griffiths penalties looked to have given the Black and Ambers victory but the controversial winner and an earlier score from Simon Hunt mean Ebbw remain in the thick of the title chase.
An assured display from teenage fly half Dan Evans saw Cardiff’s undoing at Stradey Park. The youngster kicked 12 points and directed proceedings all afternoon in the 37-13 win.
Tries from Aled Jenkins, Nathan Thomas and Liam Davies in the first half gave the Scarlets a 17-6 advantage and Jonathan Edwards and Craig Hawkins added further scores in the second period to round off an impressive win. Cardiff could only manage one score through prop Scott Roberts.
Glamorgan Wanderers capitalised on Cardiff’s slip-up to move above their city rivals as centre Aled James scored 16 points in his sides 26-9 win over Swansea at St Helen’s.
His try, conversion and hat-trick of penalties were added to by half-back pairing Harry Trelawney and Mark Roper who each scored tries. Swansea’s points all came from first half Dan Biggar penalties.
Maesteg sprung a shock when they pipped Bedwas 28-27 at the Bridge Field with tries from Lenny Woodard, Karl Hocking and Mike Davies while Llandovery were beaten 20-15 by visiting Aberavon and Cross Keys had too much for Bridgend at Pandy Park, coming through 23-17.