Pontypridd 33-12 Ayr

Ponty struck straight from the kick off, an irrepressible surge upfield rounded off with a try in the corner scored by full back Gareth Wyatt, with barely a minute on the clock.

Ayr’s response was equally dynamic, running hard at their opponents, with the game promising to be an open and competitive affair despite the heavy conditions. As the Scots maintained a concerted period of pressure, their pack drove over for prop Gordon Reid to claim a try.

Both sides were more than willing to move the ball wide, but Ponty committing a higher percentage of errors, one of those allowing Ayr to seize loose possession and strike for an opportunist try scored by wing Cammy Taylor and converted by Frazer Climo. The visitors continued to edge the contest, poaching the ball at the breakdown and looking menacing on the counter attack. Despite a penalty well struck by home outside half Dean Gunter, Ayr were worthy of their interval lead of 8pts to 12.

Ponty strove hard to up the tempo of their game after the restart, but still committing errors, and making numerous changes off the bench. Following a scrappy period of play, frustrations momentarily boiled over into a punch up, with Gunter stroking over another penalty.

The home team were now clawing their way into the ascendancy, with tireless flanker Darren Waters leading their charges. Ayr in turn were stretching the laws of the game to the limit in a bid to stem the tide, with back rower Andy Dunlop yellow carded  and Ponty replacement outside half Simon Humberstone kicking the ensuing penalty.

Going into the final quarter of the contest, the scoreline was still close, but Pontypridd being the team holding all the aces, with the game played almost exclusively in the visitors’ half. As Ponty continued to press forward, Humberstone hoisted a cross kick which winger Owen Williams tapped on to put replacement full back Kristian Baller in for a try, converted from the widest of angles by Humberstone.

A ground breaking driving maul from the Ponty pack, who were also now well on top in the set pieces, kept up their momentum, to the extent of being the dominant force. Ayr continued to infringe, replacement Glen Tippett yellow carded, and a sustained period of pressure on the visitors’ line culminating in the award of a penalty try, which Simon Humberstone duly converted.

A fine second half performance was rounded off as Ponty cut loose in injury time, allowing centre Adam Thomas to power through for a bonus point try, capping an impressive win by 33pts to 12.

Pontypridd:

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

1.Lewis Smout (Stuart Williams). 2.Tom Hetherington (Huw Dowden). 3.Ken Knaggs. 4.Craig Locke. 5.Chris Dicomidis – cpt. 6.Jake Thomas (Ed Siggery). 7.Darren Waters. 8.Owen Sheppeard (Cory Hill).

“Golden Bob” man of the match: Darren Waters.

Scorers: