Pontypool 10-25 Pontypridd

Pontypridd opened the scoring through a Dean Gunter penalty well struck from forty-five metres out, but then falling behind as Pontypool centre Dan Robinson cut through for a try which Geraint O’Driscoll converted.

The game was evenly balanced, and the deadlock reflected on the score-board as Gunter struck over another penalty for Ponty, but the points cancelled out as O’Driscoll responded in kind.

The one facet of play where Pontypridd were gaining the upper hand was the set pieces, their cause further aided for a ten minute spell as home prop Nicky Blake was sin-binned. A pushover try claimed by no8 Owen Sheppeard and converted by Gunter put Pontypridd ahead at the interval by 10pts to 13.

The game continued to ebb back and fore, played out mostly in the midfield no man’s land. Ponty once again advanced, edging towards their opponents’ line with a series of drives and mauls, culminating in a try scored by flanker Dan Godfrey and converted by Gunter.

As Pontypool struck back with a concerted period of pressure, their claim of a touchdown was ignored by the referee, and Ponty retaliating with a surge upfield led by winger Chris Clayton and rounded off with a killer try scored out wide by scrum half Rhys Downes.

Having held the upper hand in the forward exchanges, and having taken their chances well, Ponty emerged as worthy winners by 10pts to 25.

Pontypridd:

15.Gareth Wyatt. 14.Chris Clayton. 13.Matthew Nuthall. 12.Adam Thomas. 11.Owen Williams (Gary Williams). 10.Dean Gunter (Lewis K Williams). 9.Rhys Downes (Garyn Lucas).

1.Ken Knaggs (James Howe). 2.Huw Dowden (Tom Hetherington). 3.Pat Palmer. 4.Cory Hill. 5.Chris Dicomidis – cpt. 6.Dan Godfrey. 7.Calum Thomas (Wayne O’Connor). 8.Owen Sheppeard (Ryan Savage).