Pontypridd 42-27 Carmarthen Quins

Ponty started this re-arranged game knowing that a bonus point win would take them above Llanelli into 4^th place in the Welsh Premiership. And that proved to be with a shaky but at times confident win over the Quins, which also extracted revenge on their loss at Carmarthen last August.

However, again Ponty got off to a poor start and had to play catch up rugby. The Quins nearly scored a try in the opening minute, but Kris Baller got back to kick the ball over the dead ball line. From the resulting scrum, the Quins scored their first try through scrum half Ricky Richards. The try went unconverted which was to be a major feature of the performance by the Quins, missed kicks proving to be very costly to them.

Ponty hit back and after 13 minutes scored their first try through winger Owen Williams (his 6^th try of the season), making a mazy 40m run through some poor defence by the Quins. Dean Gunter missed the conversion ,(that was to be his only missed kick of the game). Two minutes later, the Quins and Ricky Richards scored their second try. Poor first up tackling near their own try line by Ponty enabled Richards to sneak over. For a second time, the try went unconverted

Dean Gunter kicked his first penalty of the evening after 18 minutes to make the score 8-10, but Ponty were finding themselves under pressure from the Quins and were guilty of making basic errors, and after 29 minutes, the Quins increased their lead through a third try by centre John Leyshon. For a third time outside half James Garland missed the conversion.

Ponty then upped the pace of the game, primarily through scrum half Kris Baller. A quickly tapped penalty saw Baller make about 30m where the Quins gave away a penalty about 35m out. Gunter put this over to reduce the Quins lead to 11-15.

After 38 minutes the Quins went down to 14 players Garland was sin binned by referee Greg Morgan for what seemed to be preventing the ball coming back on the Ponty side, but could also have been down to a culmination of penalties the Quins had given away. Gunter put over the penalty to bring Ponty to within 1 point.

However, Gunter was to suffer the same fate as his opposite number as he too was sin binned  (his second yellow card of the season). As Garland was already off the pitch, flanker Kris Gibbins took the penalty near the Ponty posts, but amazingly missed it.

Ponty had to make a change at half time, hooker Rhys Williams replacing the injured Wayne O’Connor, with Tom Hetherington moving  on to the flank.

Ponty took the lead after 48 minutes, having applied most of the pressure in the second half. Poorly tapped ball from a Quins line out, saw Tom Hetherington steal the ball, following some good support play , the ball got to wing Chris Clayton who was held up short of the line. From the resulting ruck, the Quins were found guilty of killing the ball, and Ponty were awarded a penalty try (their 2^nd of the season). James Garland, who had just returned to the field was found guilty of the offence, he received a second yellow and was sent off. Aaron Bramwell put over the conversion in Gunter’s absence.

The next 20 minutes was Ponty’s purple patch of the game, taking advantage of the extra man, they cut the Quins back line at will. After 56 minutes, following a break by Bramwell, Gunter sneaked over in the corner , which he also converted.. Within 5 minutes Ponty got their bonus point try through lock Chris Martenko (his 6^th try of the season, equal with Darren Waters as top forward try scorer).

The game was put beyond doubt after 68 minutes, and what a try to do it. From their own 22 the ball was moved out to Chris Clayton ,  with a cracking hand off he brushed off the first Quins defender before chipping the ball over the full back’s head, collecting the ball and powered over  the try line for his 10^th try of the season and his first against the Quins. Gunter converted to reach  a personal game total of 20 points.

Even though the game was beyond the Quins to their credit, they kept plugging away and nearly got their 4^th try after 72 minutes, some excellent tracking back by captain Gavin Dacey preventing this.

However the Quins were not to be denied a bonus point try which they got through number 8 Gareth Williams, which finally went converted by replacement Gareth Cull.

In the final minute the Quins got a fifth and consolation try by wing Darren Daniel. But Ponty were not to be denied a 2^nd successive home win over the Quins.

All roads now lead to the Brewery Field  on the 17^th April for the third instalment between the 2 sides- this time for a place in the Swalec Cup final on May 8^th.

Pontypridd Scorers

Tries       Owen Williams     (13 mins)

                Penalty Try            (48 mins)

                Dean Gunter          (56 mins)

                Chris Martenko    (62 mins)

                Chris Clayton        (68 mins)

Cons       Dean Gunter          (56 mins,  62 mins,  68 mins)

                Aaron Bramwell    (48 mins)

Pens       Dean Gunter          (18 mins, 35 mins, 38 mins)

Team

Aaron Bramwell, Chris Clayton (rep Lee Thorne  73 mins), Gavin Dacey (captain), Gary Williams (rep Dafydd Lockyer 66 mins),  Owen Williams, Dean Gunter, Kris Baller (rep Gavin Morris 71 mins)

Jon Williams, Tom Hetherington, Ryan Harford (rep Ken Knaggs 64 mind), Grant Harrington, Chris Martenko, Ryan Savage, Wayne O’Connor (rep Rhys Williams 40 mins), Chris Dicomidis (rep Callum Brennan 73 mins)

 Golden Bob           Owen Williams