Llandovery 17-33 Pontypridd

The ball was given plenty of air as both teams looked to attack from all angles right from the start. Pontypridd struck first after winning a turnover of possession followed by a series of drives into the home twenty-two, winger Chris Clayton squeezing in for a try in the corner with just six minutes on the clock.

Ponty were linking well and probing into opposition territory, but a footrush counter attack from Llandovery taking play back to the other end of the field. As the home team continued to press forward, centre Paul Davies sliced through for a try right under the posts, converted by outside half Cerith Rees.

A competitive encounter was in store as Ponty once more took the initiative, with centre Gavin Dacey providing the main thrust of their attacks, but settling for a Dean Gunter penalty to put points on the board. Llandovery’s repost was immediate and emphatic, no8 Keiron Murphy powering through for a try which Rees again converted. Pontypridd took some time to regain composure, with the midfield trio of Gunter, Lockyer and Dacey spearheading their recovery but a long period of pressure rewarded only by another Dean Gunter penalty, narrowing the scoreline deficit to 14pts to 11 at the interval.

Ponty were soon pounding the gain line as the game resumed, with flanker Waters and hooker Hetherington carrying the ball well, but hampered by their own errors and the home team’s ability to infringe without incurring the wrath of the referee. Dean Gunter hoisted over another penalty from forty metres out, but opposite number Cerith Rees responding with a successful kick of his own.

Making a number of changes to their line up, Ponty now reverted to basics with a series of drives deep into home territory. One final shunt from a close range line out was rounded off with a try claimed by prop Ryan Harford, edging his team into a two point lead.

As on previous occasions, Llandovery’s response to conceding a score was to step up their efforts in attack, but the Ponty cover defence this time allowing no way through. The game was now fast and loose, balanced on a knife edge with just a quarter of an hour remaining, but Ponty once more building up a head of steam through a driving maul and with Llandovery replacement Matthew Harbutt sin binned for impeding. Driving on from an attacking line out, prop Harford once more grounded for a crucial try, converted by Gunter.

Ponty were now in the ascendancy against a spirited Llandovery side, replacement lock Cory Hill snatching a turnover in a one to one contact and cruising in for a bonus point try, once more converted by Gunter.

It had taken a good deal of hard graft in a keenly contested battle, but Pontypridd emerged victorious by 17pts to 33 to confirm a top finish in the Premiership campaign, and top seeding in the play-off title decider.

Pontypridd:

15.Matthew Nuthall (Adam Thomas). 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Dafydd Lockyer (Gary Williams). 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Dean Gunter. 9.Lewis Jones (Kristian Baller).

1.Stuart Williams (Ken Knaggs). 2.Tom Hetherington. 3.Ryan Harford (Stuart Williams). 4.Craig Locke. 5.Matthew Screech (Cory Hill). 6.Darren Waters (Ryan Savage). 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Owen Sheppeard.

Scorers: