GREG Woods has praised his “superb” Cross Keys side for their stunning record 38-17 Principality Premiership victory over Pontypridd at Sardis Road on Tuesday night, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

Their remarkable hammering of the league and cup double champions was fully deserved and was their second bonus point win away in four days.

On Friday they thrashed Cardiff 38-10 and head to Dublin on Saturday for a group clash with British and Irish Cup champions Leinster A looking to complete a remarkable hat trick on the road.

This week’s victory over Ponty came thanks to tries by their scoring-machine lock Dan Hodge, crossing for his eight of the season in 13 games, wing Elliot Jones, full-back James Cordy-Redden and openside Scott Matthews while fly-half Dorian Jones kicked 18 points.

It beat their previous best success over their opponents in the league, topping a 28-8 triumph in the 2003/04 season, and was Pontypridd's first defeat in nearly a year, stretching back 30 matches.

It was also the first time they’d left the ‘House of Pain’ as victors for six years as they secured their seventh win on the bounce in all competitions and moved up two places in the league to fourth.

Keys head coach Woods hailed his troops for their efforts: “It had been a long time since we’d won at Sardis Road – it was in 2007 with Lloyd Burns – but this topped that victory.

“We wanted to build the momentum from the excellent victory over Cardiff last Friday and this was a massive scalp for us.

“We wanted to them on in the set-piece and the commitment and defensive effort was superb.”

Woods added: “Beating a top end side like Pontypridd by scoring 38 points at Sardis Road doesn’t happen often and we were quite ruthless and I am so pleased with the players. This is certainly one of my career highlights as a coach.

“Pontypridd are a quality side and I have massive respect for them. I’m sure they will be challenging at the end of this season.”

Keys are now just five points behind league leaders Ponty now have a game in hand.

Llandovery, who won 25-20 away at Swansea this week, are second while Carmarthen Quins are third.