Pontypridd 39-17 Swansea

Swansea took an early lead courtesy of a penalty kicked by outside half Sam Davies but that score cancelled out by a similar effort from his opposite number Lewis K Williams.

It was the home team that kicked the game into gear, an attack instigated from deep by a Gavin Dacey break finished off in style as full back Gareth Wyatt cruised in for a try, converted by Williams.

Ponty were showing fine support skills and some sublime passing along the back line, with winger Lewis I Williams darting in for a try in the corner. Both teams were intent on maintaining the tempo of the game, taking quick tap penalties and attacking at every opportunity. Ponty made the most of an advantage played from a turnover, scrum half Lewis Jones chipping ahead for winger Williams to kick and chase, grounding the ball for another fine try scored with twenty-eight minutes gone.

Swansea struck back immediately, a kick and rush counter offensive culminating in an opportunist try for centre David Watts and converted by Davies. The sheer fluidity of play was reflected in the high scoring rate, scrum half Jones again instigating a break for Ponty with flanker Chris Dicomidis up in support to claim a fourth touchdown which notched up a bonus point for his team. As Swansea full back Barry Davies cut through in midfield for a try which Sam Davies converted, a frenetic and highly entertaining first half came to an end with Ponty in the lead by 25pts to 17.

Both teams maintained their willingness to play an open game after the restart, the exchanges being fast and loose but at a deadlock with neither side able to threaten a score. Going into the final quarter, Ponty varied their tactics to good effect, concentrating on a series of  forward drives to apply pressure on their opponents’ line, and impressive prop Pat Palmer powering over for a close range try which Lewis K Williams converted.

The home team were asserting themselves as the game drew to a close, instigating a foray down the flank which almost resulted in another score. As pressure was applied through a series of attacking scrums, one of those was deliberately collapsed by the Swansea pack with the awarding of a penalty try to Ponty which Williams again converted.

Maintaining their ascendancy through to the final whistle, Pontypridd were thoroughly deserving of a 39pts to 17 bonus point victory.

Pontypridd:

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

1.Ken Knaggs (James Howe). 2.Darren Harris (Huw Dowden). 3.Pat Palmer. 4.Cory Hill. 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Chris Dicomidis – cpt (Jake Thomas). 7.Tom Hetherington. 8.Dan Godfrey.

“Golden Bob” man of the match: Tom Hetherington

Scorers: