Pontypridd 29-16 Llanelli

A contest between two enterprising young teams, played in Indian Summer conditions, should have provided a guarantee of freeflowing rugby, but rarely did this encounter live up to expectations.

Pontypridd eventually claimed the honours thanks to a second half revival but overall made hard work of nailing the home victory needed to climb from their mid table position in the Premiership.

Both teams put plenty of momentum into their play during the first period but rarely displaying a killer instinct, and an exchange of penalties between opposing outside halves Lewis K. Williams of Pontypridd and David Higgins of Llanelli keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

With Ponty 9pts to 6 up there came a turning point in the game, the home team yielding a turnover deep in their own half and Llanelli counter attacking at pace for wing Bowdy Davies to claim a try which Higgins converted. Ponty were shaken but not stirred and conceded another penalty to go into the interval trailing in terms of points and superiority.

The game was often fast and loose with many errors committed, and needed one of the contesting teams to impose themselves on proceedings. Ponty stepped up to the mark as flanker Dan Godfrey generated a half break with dynamic scrum half Rhys Downes up in support to score a try converted by Williams.

A Dean Gunter penalty edged Ponty further ahead before their pack set up a series of hard drives to the visitors’ line, prop James Howe powering over for a try. The home eight now had their tails up, generating a driving maul and launching another phase of attack. The ever impressive Rhys Downes chipped ahead and gathered to score a fine individual try which effectively sealed the victory for his side.

Ponty were now chasing the important bonus point try, but Llanelli’s resolve and their own error count saw the game coming to a conclusion as an evenly balanced affair with the home win secured by 29pts to 16

Pontypridd:

15.Gareth Wyatt (Matthew Nuthall). 14.Chris Clayton. 13.Adam Thomas. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Owen Williams. 10.Lewis K. Williams (Dean Gunter). 9.Rhys Downes (Gareth Williams).

1.Stuart Williams (James Howe). 2.Huw Dowden (Tom Hetherington). 3.Ken Knaggs. 4.Ryan Savage (Jordan Sieniawski). 5.Chris Dicomidis – cpt. 6.Dan Godfrey. 7.Wayne O’Connor (Calum Thomas). 8.Owen Sheppeard.

Golden Bob man of the match: Rhys Downes

Scorers: