A stunning seven-try second half salvo saw Bridgend overturn a 20-7 half time deficit and record a crushing 50-27 double bonus point victory over Pontypool at the Electric Brewery Field.
It secured Scott Baldwin’s men their first league win since 4 October – a run stretching nine matches. However, at half time, it was Pooler who had looked in control of this basement battle.
Tries from wing Marcus Jones, No 8 Morgan Allen and hooker Sam Scarfe, along with five points from the boot of captain Kieran Meek, had put Pooler 20-7 to the good.
Full-back Fraser Jones scored for the hosts in what for them was a dismal first half, with the try converted by Ben Burnell.
Bridgend captain Thomas Jevons hit back for Bridgend straight after the re-start, again converted by Burnell but, almost immediately, Pooler were up the other end with Marcus Jones grabbing his second try to secure the visitors a bonus point. Meek’s conversion made it 27-14.
Not many would have foreseen what followed as Bridgend turned on the style to take their visitors apart. Two tries in quick succession, scored by Joe Gatt and centre Tom Florence, both improved by Burnell, turned the match on its head.
Then, just before the hour mark Gatt – playing on the wing – was over for his second and the hosts’ fifth try to make it 33-27.
Now firmly in the ascendancy, there was no let up from Bridgend, with further tries off the bench from replacements Chris Williams, Ryan Wilkins and Lloyd Wilkins to seal a crushing win and leave Pooler stunned. Burnell converted Williams’ try.
For Pooler, who had been in good form in the SRC Cup in recent weeks, this was an eighth straight league defeat and means they stay bottom of the table. Tom Hancock will now look to rally his troops as they return to action at newly-crowned SRC Plate victors Swansea in a rearranged fixture on Saturday (2pm).
Cardiff are now second in the table after they won 28-24 at Aberavon. Hooker Evan Nicholls-Ngasseu scored twice for the Blue & Blacks, who also had wing Joe Goodchild and captain Craig Hudd on the scoresheet.
Harri Wilde kicked three conversions and Matty Young one. Felix Gilbert, Keillen Cullen and Frankie Jones scored for Aberavon, with Cullen also kicking nine points.
However, for the Wizards this marked a seventh league defeat on the spin and 11 on the bounce including the SRC Cup. Their last win came at Pontypool back on 30 October.
Cardiff are 15 points behind leaders Ebbw Vale after 14 rounds, with four more games to go before the play-offs.