When they went to the Arms Park on 28 October they won 16-9 as they continued to prove they could live in their new league. Five days later they beat Ebbw Vale at home and were riding high.
But having started the season with a bang, winning seven of their opening eight games on their return to the top-flight, they have only won twice in their last eight.
A three-week break in fixtures has given director of rugby Leighton Jones the chance to re-group and get some players back to full fitness for an important run to the end of the campaign.
“The break has been a double-edged sword. We had a break after our winning streak, and it didn’t serve us well,” said Pooler director of rugby Leighton Jones.
“Hopefully, this break has helped to get some boys back from injury and helped to freshen up a few others. With a couple of players coming back, we can look to get back to where we were at the start of the season.”
Pooler also suffered a point deduction that enabled Cardiff to leapfrog them into the fourth and final play-off spot.
The Blue & Blacks now have a 10 point lead over Pontypridd in fifth and an 11 point advantage over Pooler one place back. Jones’ men do have a game in hand, though, and so a win this weekend at Pontypool Park would set-up an interesting run in to the end of the season.
Morgan Allen leads the Cardiff side from No 8 for a game that head coach Steve Law knows will be a huge challenge.
“We were bitterly disappointed with the loss to Pooler earlier in the season when our lack of discipline and ambition let us down badly. But it will be a different game on Saturday,” said Law.
“A heavy pitch and a wet ball will mean our skill set and accuracy will need to be spot on. We will need a performance against a side who are fighting against us for the fourth spot and a play off berth.”
Third placed Ebbw Vale are head to Bridgend hoping to keep in touch with Newport in the battle for the all-important second place, which guarantees a home game in the play-offs. They are currently five points behind having played a game more.
More importantly for Jason Strange’s men, they are 12 points clear of Cardiff in fourth place. Bridgend have been a difficult side to beat at the Brewery Field this season and have taken the scalps of Pontypridd, Pontypool and RGC on their home turf.
When the two sides met at Eugene Cross Park, The Steelmen struggled to win 18-16 and failed to pick up a bonus-point.
Runaway league leaders Llandovery need one more win to be guaranteed a top four finish. On paper at least that should be a formality at The Gnoll, where they top side who has lost only once this season takes on the basement team boasting only two wins to date this season.
Swansea, without a win this year, will be hoping to break their duck at St Helen’s against Carmarthen Quins, while Aberavon host RGC.
