Aberavon 10-3 Pontypridd

A high and late tackle on Ponty fly-half Dai Flanagan gave an indication of a physical encounter in the offing; the fact that the incident went unnoticed also gave an indication of the way things might go. The visitors enjoyed an early territorial advantage, but no scoring opportunities created, before a fracas amongst the forwards resulted in the sin binning of Ponty’s Rhys Lloyd and Aberavon’s Darryl Thomas.

The game so far was struggling to ignite in the constant murky drizzle, a series of errors, infringements and injuries sometimes interspersed by some meaningful rugby. The deadlock was eventually broken as home outside half Jamie Davies successfully converted a penalty with twenty-three minutes gone. Ponty were attempting to counter at pace, with Lewis Williams, Bramwell and Thomas leading their attacks, but Aberavon overall getting the better of things, with the referee’s decisions in their favour.

With Ponty back-tracking into their own twenty-two, a decisive mid-field break by Wizard’s wing Chris Lewis resulted in a try which was converted by Davies, giving the home team an interval lead of 10pts to 0.

Numerous handling errors continued to blight the game, which was being played in poor conditions, and all of Ponty’s attempts to play some deft rugby, sometimes from deep within their own territory, coming to nothing. An Aberavon kick and rush attack proved more effective, with the visitors continuing to struggle in all aspects of play.

Following up on a driving maul, Ponty attempted to move up a gear, sniping away in attack, but their own errors and the referee’s decision continuing to go against them. A Dai Flanagan penalty kicked on seventy-five minutes finally broke Ponty’s duck, but all attempts thereafter to push on to another score proving in vain.

Going down to defeat by 10pts to 3 in an uninspiring contest, Ponty at least took a losing bonus point away with them from a gloomy Talbot Athletic Ground, as some consolation for their efforts.

Pontypridd:

15.Matthew Nuthall. 14.Kristian Baller (Chris Clayton). 13.Aaron Bramwell. 12.Adam Thomas (Gary Williams). 11.Lewis Williams. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Rhys Downes.

1.Sam Hobbs. 2.Tom Hetherington. 3.Ryan Harford (Stuart Williams). 4.Chris Martenko (Grant Harrington).5.Ryan Savage. 6.Chris Dicomidis – cpt. 7.Wayne O’Connor (Darren Waters). 8.Rhys Lloyd.

Scorers: