Pontypridd 28-15 Newport

Newport shot straight out of the blocks, creating an overlap try for wing Owen Broad with just two minutes up on the clock.

As the game settled down into a close fought battle for supremacy in a muddy middle section of the field with neither try line threatened, Newport just maintained the upper hand, extending their lead through a penalty kicked by outside half Rhys Jones.

Ponty were striving hard to get back into contention, but thwarted by their own errors in a contest that was bogged down and slowed up by the constant blast of the referee’s whistle. The home team at last managed to move up a gear, advancing through a series of pick up and drives, and settling for a penalty kicked by outside half Dean Gunter.

As Pontypridd continued to press forwards, flanker Ed Siggery muscled his way over for a try, drawing his team level at the interval, 8pts apiece.

If the first half had been evenly balanced, the third quarter of the game belonged exclusively to Ponty. The home team came out fired up and immediately upped the tempo of the contest, putting together some exhilarating passages of play. A fine support move was rounded off with a try scored by winger Owen Williams and converted by Gunter. As the Ponty back line was once more triggered into action, wing Lewis Williams accelerated through for another score.

Newport were under the cosh, their outside half Rhys Jones sin binned and his opposite number Dean Gunter stroking over another penalty to increase the home lead. When prop Ken Knaggs powered over for a fourth touchdown, Ponty had a bonus point in the bag and the result pretty much sewn up.

As numerous substitutions were made, the game inevitably lost its momentum, and with Newport edging back into contention, but up against a spirited home defence. Ponty soaked up the pressure, with their no8 Owen Sheppeard yellow carded, but eventually succumbing as the Black and Ambers drove on from a five metre scrum, no8 Ross Coombs claiming a try which was converted by replacement outside half Chris Wannell. This proved to be a consolation score only, as Pontypridd had done more than enough during a period of second half supremacy to ensure their victory by a margin of 28pts to 15.

Pontypridd

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

1.Lewis Smout (Chris Phillips). 2.Huw Dowden (Kristian Dacey). 3.Ken Knaggs. 4.Cory Hill. 5.Chris Dicomidis – cpt (Matthew Skreech). 6.Ed Siggery. 7.Darren Waters (Jake Thomas). 8.Owen Sheppeard.

“Golden Bob” man of the match – Ed Siggery

Scorers: