Pontypridd 20-18 Carmarthen

Pontypridd took control of the game early on, dominant in the set pieces and grafting hard for possession in the loose, yet unable to threaten a score as the first quarter passed by pointless.

Always seeking to up the tempo, Ponty finally generated a dynamic passing move down the wing, flanker Darren Waters on hand to power over for a try in the corner.

The game continued a stop start affair, rarely allowed to flow in the contact area, but with Ponty striving to hit the gain line through centres Williams and Lockyer and back rowers Siggery and Dicomidis.

Two penalties kicked by Carmarthen full back James Stephenson with one in response from Ponty outside half Dean Gunter kept the scoreboard ticking over, but the last act of the first half being a yellow card issued to home full back Adam Thomas, with his side narrowly leading by 8pts to 6.

Ponty still tried to build up some momentum after the break but the game failing to achieve lift off, dictated by the referee’s whistle. Pent up frustrations spilled over into a mass brawl amongst the forwards, with the crowd resorting to a slow hand clap, directed at the match officials rather than the opposing teams. A yellow card issued to Carmarthen prop Rob Evans summed up the mood of the day.

After another twenty minutes had gone by without a score Ponty managed to step up a gear, rounding off a quick fire support move with a try scored by centre Dafydd Lockyer. The Quins’ tendency to impede around the fringes saw another yellow card brandished to replacement prop Kevin Jones.

A dynamic break by Adam Thomas almost put Gareth Wyatt in for a score, but Ponty maintaining their momentum, rewarded as Lockyer crossed for another try, this time converted by Gunter.

Just as it seemed that Pontypridd had sealed the victory, the game took a dramatic turn late on. Carmarthen responded with a series of attacks, putting wing Ryan Llywellyn over for a try which Stephenson converted, and centre Andrew Banfield then crossing for another try in injury time. The crucial conversion to level the scores from Stephenson rebounded off the upright, Pontypridd just clinging on to a win by the tightest of margins, 20pts to 18.

Pontypridd:

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

1.Stuart Williams (Ken Knaggs). 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Ryan Harford (WillGriffJohn). 4.Craig Locke (Brendan Lyons). 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Ed Siggery. 7.Darren Waters (Calum Thomas). 8.Chris Dicomidis – cpt.

Golden Bob man of the match: Owen Williams

Scorers: