Pontypridd 32-21 Aberavon

Ponty powered into their opponents’ half right from the off, their early endeavours rewarded as scrum half Kristian Baller hoisted over a long range penalty. As outside half Simon Humberstone followed suite with another penalty after seven minutes, the home side were six points to the good.

Although Aberavon had barely made any inroads into home territory, they broke their duck as outside half Matthew Jarvis responded with a penalty of his own from near the half way line. Ponty once more drove upfield with vigour, but a knock on right on their opponent’s line costing dearly. Undeterred, the Ponty pack scavenged the loose ball following a five metre scrum for flanker Darren Waters to claim a try which Humberstone converted.

As Ponty attempted to unleash another attack, Aberavon lock James King followed up on an interception to dart over for an opportunist try which Jarvis converted. Ponty tried hard to pick up the pace of the game but committed errors in doing so, allowing Jarvis to stroke over another penalty to level the scores. The contest was by now pretty much a stalemate, but another well struck Humberstone penalty giving Ponty a narrow lead of 16pts to 13 which they took into the interval.

The second half resumed interspersed by errors and injuries in the icy conditions, with Ponty under a good deal of pressure, which was mostly self inflicted. Aberavon were strong in the set piece, but Ponty eagerly contesting every 50/50 ball, and setting up a position for Humberstone to convert another penalty, with fifty-two minutes gone.

A Dafydd Lockyer break gave Ponty momentum into their opponents’ twenty-two, followed up by a series of concerted drives, the last of which culminated in a try claimed by hooker Kristian Dacey.

A long range penalty kicked by Jarvis pegged back Ponty’s lead, but the home side now in the ascendancy and the visitors increasingly resorting to infringing tactics, with their centre Ashley Beck sin binned.

Another penalty from the boot of Simon Humberstone extended Ponty’s lead, before a snap kick and chase attack from replacement scrum half Garyn Lucas found no 8 Chris Dicomidis up in support to cross for a match winning try.

Going into injury time, with the mercury levels on the thermometer dropping by the minute, Aberavon finished strongly for outside half Jarvis to cross for a try wide out, but only a consolation score as Ponty registered a well earned victory by 32pts to 21.

Pontypridd:

15.Adam Thomas. 14.Gareth Wyatt. 13.Gavin Dacey. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Owen Williams. 10.Simon Humberstone (Dean Gunter). 9.Kristian Baller (Garyn Lucas).

1.Stuart Williams (Chris Phillips). 2.Kristian Dacey (Huw Dowden). 3.Ken Knaggs (Ryan Harford). 4.Craig Locke. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Darren Waters (Jake Thomas). 7.Wayne O’Connor (Tom Hetherington). 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.

“Golden Bob” man of the match: Craig Locke

Scorers: