Llanelli 24-16 Pontypridd

Llanelli kept ball in hand during the early exchanges to pin Pontypridd back in their own half. Ponty meanwhile had a strong scrummage in their armoury, enabling them to at least hold their own. Both outside halves missed kickable attempts at goal in a low key start to a game that was being played in dismal conditions.

A punch up amongst the forwards provided a source of entertainment, with little else to enlighten a dull, damp November afternoon. Llanelli kicked for territory and were able to set up a series of mauls close to the visitors’ line. As the ball was moved out, home centre Jonny Lewis charged over for a close range try, converted by outside half Jordan Williams.

Ponty strove hard to respond, but struggling to breach the gain line and too often guilty of aimlessly kicking away valuable possession. Llanelli responded with a kick and rush counter attack which almost produced a score. Ponty suffered a double setback as lock Ryan Savage was sin binned for a deliberate trip and Jordan Williams converting a penalty to increase Llanelli’s lead. Having shown little enterprise so far Pontypridd finished the first half strongly to level the scores. Outside half Dean Gunter first dissected the posts with a penalty before wing Matthew Nuthall somehow managed to ground an opportunist kick and scramble for a try which Gunter converted to draw Ponty level 10pts apiece at the interval.

The second half continued as a procession of handling errors in the wet conditions, and with Ponty kicking possession away to a Llanelli back division who showed signs of their capability to counter at pace. A Dean Gunter penalty successfully converted with fifty-four minutes gone gave Ponty a brief advantage, but undone as Llanelli centre Chris Keenan sliced through to score under the posts, with Williams adding the conversion. Gunter immediately responded with another penalty, setting up what promised to be a tense final quarter.

The play was often end to end, but due to errors made rather then the quality of rugby on show, and with Llanelli now maximising possession to close down the game. Finishing strongly, the home side applied enough pressure through a series of tight drives to send prop Shaun Hopkins over for a match winning try, converted by Williams. Any hopes of a late Ponty repost to at least salvage a bonus point evaporated in the swirling mists of Parc y Scarlets, with Llanelli emerging as victors by 24pts to 16.

Pontypridd:

15.Harley Thomson. 14.Lewis I Williams. 13.Gavin Dacey (Gary Williams). 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Matthew Nuthall. 10.Dean Gunter (Gareth Wyatt). 9.Rhys Downes (Gareth Williams).

1.Stuart Williams (Chris Phillips). 2.Rhys Williams (Huw Dowden). 3.Ryan Harford (Pat Palmer). 4.Jordan Sieniawski. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Jake Thomas. 7.Wayne O’Connor (Darran Harris temp). 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.

Scorers: