Pontypridd 18-7 Leeds Carnegie

Pontypridd made the best of starts, marauding on to a loose line-out ball for no8 Dan Godfrey to claim a try with just four minutes gone. The home team were maximising possession to keep on the front foot, and able to work off a powerful scrum.

Leeds had their opportunities in attack but up against a trademark aggressive home defence, with Pontypridd driving their opponents back in the tackle and able to secure turnovers in the loose. As Ponty once more drove upfield they were  rewarded as outside half Lewis Williams hoisted over a penalty from mid distance.

The home team now imposed themselves on the contest, their forwards in dominant mood, strong in the set pieces and ferocious in the loose. A series of line out drives and scrums gave Ponty a platform to attack, the ball whipped out for wing Matthew Nuthall to cross in the corner, giving his team a deserved  interval advantage of 13pts to 0.

It was Leeds who showed the greater appetite for attack as the second half resumed, but time and again driven back in the tackle by a thoroughly committed home defence. The third quarter of the game passed by scoreless, fought out in wet and freezing conditions but with no lack of enthusiasm from both contestants.

“They shall not pass” was the Ponty motto as they hounded their opponents off the ball at every opportunity, with tireless flanker Wayne O’Connor to the fore. Having withstood the best that Leeds could offer, Ponty struck back for a decisive score as winger Nuthall gathered a high ball and set about evading the Leeds cover to score a try wide out.

Ponty once more made steady progress upfield, the muddied black shirts swarming all over the pitch to maintain momentum, and winger Nuthall going close to claiming his hat-trick score. The game remained competitive to the end, with Leeds saving their best till last. Having gone close to scoring with a sweeping attack, the visitors then benefitted from a breakdown as winger Curtis Wilson picked up and darted over for a late try, converted by outside half Tom Barrett.

The consolation score was no less than Leeds deserved, but the victory by 18pts to 7 belonged emphatically to Pontypridd who secured their progression into the quarter final draw of the British & Irish Cup.

Pontypridd:

15.Gareth Wyatt. 14.Chris Clayton (Harley Thomson). 13.Gavin Dacey (Gary Williams). 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Matthew Nuthall. 10.Lewis K Williams. 9.Rhys Downes (Lewis Jones).

1.Ken Knaggs. 2.Huw Dowden (Darran Harris). 3.Ryan Harford (Pat Palmer). 4.Ryan Savage. 5.Chris Dicomidis – cpt (Jordan Sieniawski). 6.Jake Thomas (Tom Hetherington). 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Dan Godfrey.

“Golden Bob” man of the match: Matthew Nuthall.

Scorers: