The Sardis Road giants downed the Blue & Blacks in an epic festive derby which stopped the capital side from completing a dozen wins in a row.
It has left Pontypridd director of rugby Justin Burnell full of hope for the rest of the campaign.
“The Cardiff game was a great example of what the Premiership is all about,” Burnell said.
“It was a quality, hard fought contest played out in front of a big crowd and with a lot of young talent on show.
“We can look back on some really tight games – losing in the last minute against Cardiff away, Aberavon home, Swansea away and while those results were disappointing, we have to put them into a positive perspective with what we’re trying to achieve.
“We may not be able to compete financially with other Premiership clubs, but we have shown we can be totally competitive on the field of play.
“The Valleys Initiative, the nurturing of local talent, and the showcasing of regional players from Cardiff Blues, all these threads come together to provide Pontypridd with a lifeline at Premiership level.”
Pontypridd head west to face second placed Carmarthen Quins knowing a win could see them move into that spot if third-placed Aberavon fail to win at Swansea.
That would certainly keep the pressure on Cardiff who host Llanelli at Cardiff Arms Park in the first of two meetings this month between the two clubs.
Their next clash will be in the quarter-finals of the cup at Parc y Scarlets on January 25 as the Blue & Blacks try to hold on to the trophy they won last season.
Elsewhere, Dale McIntosh has never been a quitter, but even he concedes a fourth successive Premiership title is probably outside the reach of his Merthyr side.
McIntosh hasn’t given up on the prospect of adding some silverware to the trophy cabinet at The Wern with the Specsavers National Cup and the new cross-border tournament with the Scottish clubs very much on his agenda.
“We’re 19 points behind Cardiff at the moment. We’ve had a number of injuries and our discipline has kept on letting us down. It has been a difficult first half to the season,” admitted McIntosh.
“It is probably going to be difficult for us to challenge for the title again, but there is still a hell of a lot for us to play for this season.
“We’re really going to have a go at the cup again and I hope we can get all our players back fully fit for the end of season challenge against the Scottish clubs.”
Having moved up to fifth place with back-to-back home wins over Carmarthen Quins and RGC 1404, the Ironmen travel to Ebbw Vale on Friday to face a home side fighting for survival at the bottom of the table.
Bridgend host Newport in a key battle in the relegation zone while Llandovery head north to face RGC 1404 in Colwyn Bay.
Indigo Group Premiership – Round 13
Friday, 3 January
Ebbw Vale v Merthyr (kick-off 7.05pm)
Saturday, 4 January
Bridgend v Newport (kick-off 2.30pm)
Cardiff v Llanelli (kick-off 5.15pm)
Carmarthen Quins v Pontypridd (kick-off 2.30pm)
RGC v Llandovery (kick-off 2.30pm)
Swansea v Aberavon (kick-off 2.30pm)
