Pontypridd 21-20 Newport

Two early sucker punches put Ponty back on the ropes, the first as former Sardis favourite Gareth Wyatt cut through the home defence for a try with just a minute gone, the second as Newport once again cut free from turnover ball, sending hooker Andy Brown in for a try, both scores converted by Chris Wannell.

The home team fought their way back into the game, grafting hard for possession in the loose and poaching line out ball, but with the referee’s arm favouring Newport, falling further behind to a Wannell penalty. A Ponty comeback was however on the cards, and instigated by a successfully converted Dean Gunter penalty, before a series of forward charges allowed lock Grant Harrington to claim a try, Gunter’s conversion trimming his side’s interval deficit to 10pts to 17.

As Ponty opened the second half scoring through another Gunter penalty, a close encounter was on the cards. A hard rain was falling on Sardis Road, and a hard game played out in difficult conditions, with no quarter given or asked by either side. As Ponty wing Lewis Williams was tripped in chasing through for a try, scrum half Rhys Downes followed up to claim an opportunist score, with Gareth Wyatt sin-binned for the original offence.

Both teams put a huge effort into attack in their turn, but Ponty just edging a no holds barred contest, laying their bodies on the line in defence and driving hard on the offensive.

There was high drama still to come, a late penalty kicked by Shaun Connor giving Newport a brief lead, but the glory going to teenage outside half Dean Gunter whose pressure kick sealed the win for Ponty by 21pts to 20.

Pontypridd:

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

1.Sam Hobbs. 2.Rhys Williams. 3.Pat Palmer (Ryan Harford). 4.Grant Harrington. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Chris Dicomidis. 7.Wayne O’Connor (Chris Martenko). 8.Nathan Strong – cpt.

“Golden Bob” man of the match – Rhys Downes.

Scorers: