Glamorgan Wanderers 15-47 Pontypridd

An early spate of Pontypridd pressure was rewarded as outside half Simon Humberstone hoisted over a fourth minute penalty, with home centre Gareth Wallace sin binned soon after. As dynamic centre Dafydd Lockyer burst through for a try which Humberstone converted, Ponty seemed to be cruising.

A try scored at pace from within his own half by Wanderers’ wing Rory Budina and converted by Tomos Marks gave an indication however that there was still a game to be played. There followed an exchange of penalties between Humberstone and Marks, interspersed by a try as Ponty wing Owen Williams seized on a poor clearance kick to claim a touchdown.

Ponty were striving hard to dominate, but lacking the killer touch, and a Tomos Marks penalty and a short range try scored by flanker Ruben Tucker hauling the Wanderers back into contention, as reflected in the interval scoreline of 15pts to 18.

The game continued, fast and loose, and with many errors committed, into the second period. Ponty replacement Dean Gunter struck over another penalty, and the home team’s indiscipline resulting in a yellow card shown to prop Mark O’Leary. Ponty seemed to be at sixes and sevens, spurning three good scoring opportunities due to handling errors in what was becoming a well below par performance.

Replacement centre Gary Williams galvanised the visitors with some hard and fast midfield breaks, and that newfound resilience finally rewarded as hooker Huw Dowden charged over for a try, going into the final quarter of the game.

Although having flanker Wayne O’Connor sin binned for back chat, Ponty were by now finishing strongly, their efforts rewarded as Gary Williams, twice, and Dafydd Lockyer charged through for tries which were all converted by Gunter.

That late bombardment of points put a high gloss finish on what had largely been a matt emulsion of a performance from Ponty, but securing a valuable bonus point win by 15pts to 47.

Pontypridd:

15.Matthew Nuthall (Gary Williams). 14.Gareth Wyatt. 13.Adam Thomas. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Owen Williams. 10.Simon Humberstone (Dean Gunter). 9.Kristian Baller (Lewis Jones).

1.Stuart Williams. 2.Tom Hetherington (Huw Dowden). 3.Phil Osborne (WillGriff John). 4.Craig Locke. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Jake Thomas (Ed Siggery). 7.Wayne O’Connor (Calum Thomas). 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.

Scorers: