I REMEMBER a Premiership encounter between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff at Eugene Cross Park in March, 2007.

The Steelmen were flying high and chasing the title but came a cropper against the Blue and Blacks.

The visitors included several young players that have gone on to big things – Jamie Roberts at full-back, Tom Isaacs at scrum-half and Rhys Gill at loosehead – but there was no disputing who was the key figure.

Andy Powell, at that stage uncapped, was making his return from injury for Cardiff and completely bossed the game.

He racked up the yards all evening long with Steelmen on his back and clinging on to his legs.

It was a prime example of the difference that a top quality full-time player can make against semi-pros.

I recall this tale because of the rather predictable response to Pontypridd deservedly securing the double of the Principality Premiership and Swalec Cup.

Ponty are far and away the best club side in Wales, nobody has been able to live with their power and precision this season.

But their success has allowed some of their faithful to get carried away and claim that they could beat Newport Gwent Dragons.

Ponty even posted a tongue-in-cheek challenge to Rodney Parade on their Facebook page asking for a play-off for a place in the RaboDirect Pro12.

While defending the Dragons’ honour I am not putting down Pontypridd.

They have the ability to mix it up front as well as the talent to cut sides to ribbons out wide. The Sardis Road outfit are well run and every bit as dominant as the Neath side of the last decade.

But to suggest they could edge out a professional side – even one that has endured a season as bad as the Dragons – is a tad delusional.

Ask Lloyd Burns, Andrew Coombs and Darren Waters about the leap from semi-pro to pro and they will say it’s doable but hard and takes time. It would be carnage if international ball carriers Toby Faletau or Netani Talei were unleashed on a group of players that train together twice a week.

And it is worth remembering that the Dragons struggle to compete with most of Europe because of their budget… of just under £3million.

The problem is that the ease with which Ponty romped to a double has left their fans wanting a real challenge. Few would bet against them retaining their trophies in 2014 while many of their Premiership rivals are a mish-mash of academy talent and permit players.

It’s a similar situation to the one that faced Geraint Hawkes’ Neath, who pondered looking for challenges over the border.

Thankfully they now exist for Ponty and the next level for them is trying to emulate a Gwent side.

Cross Keys are the only Welsh club to have played in a British and Irish Cup final.

Matching that or going one better should be Ponty’s target rather than mixing it with the pros.