Neath 10-23 Pontypridd

Ponty were driven back into their own twenty-two from the kick off, grafting hard to stem the home team’s early surge, but coping admirably in their defensive duties.

Having weathered an early phase of pressure Ponty struck back emphatically, as scrum half Lewis Jones set off on a dynamic break, with flanker Chris Dicomidis well up in support to cross for a try which outside half Simon Humberstone converted.

Neath launched another phase of attack, but their momentum checked as centre Gareth McCarthy was sin binned for foul play. Ponty once more countered at pace, forging an effective break off the back of a scrum, with winger Matthew Nuthall slicing through to score under the posts, his try converted by Humberstone.

The home team were enjoying a greater share of possession and territory but lacking the impact to breach a well organised and committed Ponty defence. The visitors again countered upfield, spending time in the home half but Humberstone off target with a wide angle penalty and a snap drop goal attempt. The interval came with Pontypridd rewarded for their creativity holding a lead of 0pts to 14.

Ponty resumed the second half in positive mode, wingers Matthew Nuthall and Chris Clayton spearheading their early attacks. Pressure was converted into points as Simon Humberstone stroked over a penalty with forty-six minutes gone.

As Ponty were beginning to look dominant, Neath struck back with a snap counter offensive generated by scrum half Chris Morgans and rounded off with a try scored by full back Aaron Bramwell and converted by Dai Langdon. Langdon was booting his team into favourable field positions and followed up with an opportunist drop goal attempt which dissected the posts.

A kick and chase foray and a turnover of possession gave Ponty some momentum upfield, and an opportunity for Humberstone to hoist over another penalty to extend his side’s lead. Ponty were now mauling effectively and keeping the game up in the home half. A sweeping passing move gave them further impetus, allowing Humberstone to take his chance with a drop goal attempt which ricocheted off the crossbar and over for another three points.

As replacement flanker Tom Hetherington was sin binned, Ponty were forced back into defensive duties against a late Neath repost, but holding firm and striking back upfield during a ten minute period of time added on. As the referee’s final whistle sounded it was Pontypridd who were celebrating a victory by 10pts to 23 and progression into the semi final round of the cup.

Pontypridd:

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

1.Stuart Williams (Ken Knaggs). 2.Huw Dowden. 3.Pat Palmer. 4.Craig Locke (Jake Thomas). 5.Ryan Savage. 6.Chris Dicomidis – cpt. 7.Wayne O’Connor (Tom Hetherington). 8.Dan Godfrey (Owen Sheppeard).

Scorers: