Neath 16-13 Pontypridd

This clash between the Premiership reigning champions and the current league leaders promised to be a titanic tussle, and did not disappoint.

As the game got underway, a close fought battle around the fringes, with plenty of physicality, the tone was set for the contest to come. Neath were strong in the set pieces, applying pressure through the power of their pack, but Ponty scrapping for possession in the loose and always a threat with ball in hand, making for an evenly balanced encounter.

An exchange of penalties between opposing outside halves, Dean Gunter for Ponty and then James Thomas for Neath, broke the deadlock. It was Pontypridd who succeeded in upping the tempo of the game, winger Matthew Nuthall crossing for a try on the corner flag following a fluent passing move, with Gunter adding the touchline conversion.

Neath’s dominance up front was reflected in a period of concerted pressure applied on the visitors’ line, a series of drives and scrums culminating with the awarding of a penalty try, converted by James Thomas. 10pts apiece it was at the interval, a true reflection of a keenly contested battle for supremacy.

As the game continued a war of attrition, its pent up tensions broke out into a free for all punch up which briefly threatened to spill over into the crowd. There were yellow cards issued to hooker Ashley James and flanker Gareth Gravell of Neath, and replacement flanker Ed Siggery of Pontypridd. When rugby was allowed to resume, Dean Gunter hoisted over a penalty to edge Ponty into the lead.

Both sides put a huge amount of effort into attack, but short changed by the grim determination of the opposing defences, a real blood and thunder tussle with no quarter given or asked.

As James Thomas put over a penalty for the home side with three minutes remaining, a tense finale was in the offing. Going into time added on for fighting, Neath pressed forwards, giving Thomas the opportunity to kick another crucial penalty.

The game had been physical, hard fought and with a competitive edge throughout, with Neath just taking the verdict by 16pts to 13.

Pontypridd:

15.Adam Thomas. 14.Gareth Wyatt. 13.Dafydd Lockyer. 12.Gary Williams (Chris Clayton). 11.Matthew Nuthall. 10.Dean Gunter (Simon Humberstone). 9.Garyn Lucas.

1.Ken Knaggs (Stuart Williams). 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Sam Hobbs. 4.Craig Locke (Brendan Lyons). 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Darren Waters (Ed Siggery). 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.

Scorers: