With the clock having turned red the visitors went through over 40 phases before being awarded a penalty which secured their top-flight status
The hosts opened the scoring with Alex Knott going over at the corner before Nathan Edwards hit back for Bridgend.
Pontypridd began to build pressure with their driving line-out before the ball was shifted wide for Joel Raikes to touch down. But Bridgend levelled the scores when Ceri Sweeney’s clearance kicked was charged down and gathered by Jamie Murphy.
Bridgend took the lead on the stroke of half time when Gheorghe Gajion smashed his way over from short range after a period of sustained pressure.
Knott grabbed his second for Pontypridd in the opening stages of the second half before Michael Powell secured the bonus point for Bridgend
Howe added a successful penalty from the visitors before Bridgend lock Ben Jones was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Ben Jones. And Pontypridd took full advantage when Corey Howell’s bludgeoned his way over the line with Sweeney converting.
Sweeney levelled the scores with a penalty to set up a tense final 10 minutes. Despite losing Gareth Thomas to the sin bin Howe was able to nail a last gasp penalty.
Elsewhere Llandovery head coach Euros Evans at least had a smile on his face after seeing his side end their season with a 31-26 home win over Aberavon, but it could have been so much better if they hadn’t have slipped up in some key matches.
They were able to beat Cardiff, Pontypridd and Merthyr at home, but lost twice to Bridgend and went down to an astonishing defeat at Cross Keys. It meant a fourth place finish in the end.
“It is disappointing that we didn’t get any silverware, but it has been a good season otherwise. We didn’t perform to our ability in the semi-final of the cup against Cardiff,” said Evans.
“When you look back on the season, losing twice to Bridgend and at Cross Keys are the reason we aren’t close enough to Merthyr and Cardiff, although to finish fourth for a club our size is a good achievement.”
Llandovery’s Wales U19 cap Harri Doel helped himself to two tries and Aberavon’s Wales U18 captain Bradley Roderick marked his debut with a try as the youngsters shone in the sun at Church Bank. Doel struck twice in the second half, but Aberavon battled back to ensure the game was still in the balance to the death.
Jack Maynard gave the home side the perfect start with a try that rounded off a 70 metre move and then added the conversion and a penalty. But Aberavon worked their way into the lead either side of a yellow card for home back row man Shaun Miles.
Wing Shaun Pierce rounded off a blindside raid to score the first of his two tries and then scrum half Dai Pritchard sniped around the narrow side of a scrum to score where Miles would have been blocking him.
Drovers prop Dino Dallavalle then broke clear and sent Kris Jones galloping to the line for a try that Maynard converted to make it 17-12 at the break. The first of Doel’s tries, a superb solo run up the right touchline, increased the lead and then he got a second after Pierce had cut a great inside line to complete his brace for the visitors.
Roderick crossed at the posts as he faithfully followed a neat chip ahead to earn Aberavon a bonus-point try.
