Leighton Jones heaped praise on the supporters as they once again travelled in their droves to help inspire the team to a morale-boosting victory over title rivals Neath RFC at The Gnoll.
The players may have been the ones performing on the pitch but Jones believes the supporters play their part in giving the team the support and encouragement they need on the field.
And it was a very vocal support that saw Pooler take a deserved first-half lead in west Wales thanks to two Matthew Jarvis penalties, a Peter Lloyd try and a penalty try on the stroke of half time.
Neath battled back well after the break but Scott Matthews came off the bench to go over, and Jarvis struck another penalty, while a solid defensive display ensured Pooler ground out a win to open a 10-point lead at the top of the WRU Admiral National Championship.
Head coach Jones was delighted to inflict a first defeat of the season on the Welsh All Blacks at The Gnoll while continuing his side’s unbeaten start to the season.
And he felt the away fans played their part in the victory.
“For me they are the best set of supporters in the league and, arguably, in Welsh rugby," he said.
“They turned up again today, there were buses from all over Pontypool.
“Probably a ratio of 3:1 for our support, they are vocal, they make themselves heard and I really don’t think the supporters understand the part they play in this club.
“Not just for the team on the field but the club.
“We talk about the players having a togetherness but the supporters reinforce that and back it up.
They are a great crowd. They are great to hear when they are cheering the boys off and then at the end of the game with the boys going over to show their appreciation, it is just one club.”
The trip to The Gnoll was the first of five consecutive games away from Pontypool Park but Jones knows he can count on the supporters wherever they play.
