Following an early spate of pressure it was Aberavon who took the lead as outside half Craig Evans drilled over a penalty from in front of the posts.
Pontypridd responded with a foray at pace, Dai Flanagan levelling the scores with a close range penalty of his own.
Working off a solid forward platform, Ponty once more went on the offensive, outside half Flanagan kicking through for centre Dafydd Lockyer to follow up and score.
Flanagan added the conversion but despite the flurry of early scores, the game was mostly a stop start affair dominated by the referee’s whistle.
Aberavon had chances to get back into the game but Evans was off target with a couple of mid distance kicks at goal.
His opposite number Flanagan made no such mistake with a penalty attempt of his own to secure an interval advantage of 3-13 for Pontypridd.
Flanagan and Evans traded penalties after half-time before Pontypridd extended their lead.
Within a three minute period of frenetic activity Ponty struck twice. A counter attack from deep was rounded off with a try for dynamic flanker Rhys Shellard followed by a score for winger Owen Williams. Both scores were converted by Flanagan.
Having all but secured the win Ponty had to sit back and endure a prolonged period of pressure, defending aggressively right though their cause was hampered when replacement flanker Ed Siggery was dispatched to the sin bin.
Aberavon were finally rewarded for their sterling efforts and strong scrummaging as centre Matthew Jenkins broke through for a try which Evans converted.
Going into injury time Ponty launched one last offensive, going close to grounding a bonus point score but settling for the valuable away win by 13-30.
