Bargoed started like a bull out of a gate as they rattled up 14 points and two tries within 16 minutes. Hooker Wade Langely burrowed over for the first and then Dai Jones leapt above Amosa Nove from a well placed cross kick by Steff Jones to grab the other.
Jones converted both and the home side were off to a flying start. Pooler kept their cool and after Mathew Powell had breached the home defensive line, Deon Smith was able to run in their first try to make it 14-5 at the break.
Pontypool made three changes in the half-time break and got back into the game in the 57th minute after Ashley Sweet had collected from a close-range line-out and somehow driven himself over for the try. Despite clipping in his run up, Matthew Jarvis added the extras to cut the gap to two points.
Six minutes later Pontypool hit the front for the first time with another close-range try from Wales U20 hooker Sam Scarfe, which Jarvis again converted to make it 19-14. The visitors then had to negotiate a tricky 10 minute period with Scott Matthews in the bin before bagging their bonus-point with Mahoney’s late score.
Pontypool will face Ystrad Rhondda in the WRU Championship Cup Final on Sunday, 23 April, and the village side went on the rampage as they beat Tata Steel 79-7 as they warmed up for their big day out at Principality Stadium.
Two tries in the last 10 minutes enabled Bedwas to see off Cross Keys 42-24 . The home side led 21-14 thanks to first half tries from Jack Guy and two from Mike Dacey, all of which James Dixon converted.
Keys stayed in the fight with scores from Will Gregory, Tom Davies and a penalty try, but second half scores from Jonathan Armitage and Aaron Billingham won the day for the ‘Was.
A Sam Edwards try helped Beddau into a 13-6 interval lead at home against Maesteg Quins before they went on the rampage after the break to win 49-11 with further tries from Cameron Evans, Ewan Roberts, Tyler Wells, Dylan Williams and James Davies.
There were also big home wins for Narberth, 43-8 against Ystayfera and Glamorgan Wanderers, 31-15 against Trebanos.
