Pontypool recorded a stunning 16-14 upset by dumping Welsh-Scottish League champions Swansea out of the Principality Cup.

The Second Division side fought back magnificently from 14-3 adrift at a windswept Pontypool Park to march into the quarter-finals.

The Gwent club have faded away from the elite since beating Swansea in the Welsh Cup final 19 years ago, but they showed no respect for reputations by seeing off a side containing 11 senior internationals.

Former Gloucester and Ebbw Vale fly-half Byron Hayward put Pontypool within striking distance through two long-range second-half penalties with the wind at his back.

And then a hugely impressive Pontypool pack took charge, enjoying a spell of pressure before flanker Cay Traharne crashed over for the winning score eight minutes from time.

Hayward kept his cool to land the conversion, and Swansea just could not get out of their own half as they grew increasingly desperate in an attempt to save their blushes.

Playing into a fierce wind during the first half, Pontypool restricted Swansea to just two tries after Hayward had kicked them into a 31st-minute lead.

Home full-back Stuart Lawrence saw his attempted defensive clearance charged down by Swansea wing Shaun Payne, who gathered the rebound to touch down, then centre Steve Winn rounded off a quality move sparked by fly-half Arwel Thomas.

Thomas slotted both conversions, yet Pontypool made superb use of the elements after the break, establishing territorial supremacy and keeping their victory hopes alive through Hayward penalties on 56 and 64 minutes.

Swansea's Lions Scott Gibbs, Colin Charvis and Darren Morris tried to rescue an increasingly desperate position, but Pontypool sent a sizeable home crowd wild when Traharne crashed over.

And to compete a miserable night for Swansea, who also made an early exit from this season's Heineken Cup, they lost Welsh international lock Andy Moore inside 20 minutes to injury.