Pontypridd 19 Newport 3

By www.PontypriddRFC.co.uk - Rygbi Pontypridd - Official Website / Y Wefan Swyddogol - The Valleys' Premier Team.

It was a much changed Pontypridd side that took the field against Newport, desperately seeking a win after two crushing defeats against Cross Keys and Aberavon.  

The coaches made seven changes to the side that lost at Aberavon, including resting skipper Nathan Strong and giving Wayne O’Connor his first league start since his return from Australia. They were rewarded with a man-of-the-match performance from the dreadlocked flanker, and a convincing win over the Black-and-Ambers. 

On a cold autumn afternoon both teams began with plenty of bustle, and the game flowed from end to end before Newport put the first points on the board with a well taken drop goal by centre Nick Wakely. However, the home side gradually took control in the set pieces, and Dai Flanagan was able to control things behind. 

A superb cross kick from the outside half almost brought a try for Chris Clayton, but the ball just dribbled into touch before the flying wing could gather it. Then Newport conceded a penalty for holding on, and Flanagan’s kick hit the post and bounced out. Pontypridd was guilty of kicking good ball away on occasion, however, and a score failed to come. 

After twenty minutes Newport was reduced to fourteen men as Mathew Veater was shown a yellow card. Shortly afterwards Pontypridd also lost a player when flanker Lee Evans was forced off the pitch with blood streaming down his face after being caught at the bottom of a ruck, to be replaced temporarily by Nathan Strong. 

Pontypridd was able to exert more pressure on the depleted Newport defence while Veater was off the field, and eventually the only try of the game came in the 28^th minute. The Newport wing knocked on in his own 22-metre area, and from the resulting scrum Pontypridd spread the ball first to the left and then back to the right. A big overlap was created to leave centre Adam Thomas clear on the right, and he trotted over for a good try. Flanagan kicked the conversion, and the home side was in front by 7-3. 

There were no further scores in the first half, but after five minutes of the second half Newport conceded a penalty by going offside, and Flanagan was able to slot over a simple penalty. He repeated the feat two minutes later after Newport was penalised for talking back, this time with a difficult kick from over forty metres. 

Pontypridd was now 13-3 up, and well in control, but failed to add to the score in what was developing into a scrappy match. A nasty injury to Geraint Lewis on the hour saw Nathan Strong come back onto the field, and shortly afterwards prop Ian Poley was replaced by Nick Eaves and the bloodied but unbowed Lee Evans was replaced by Rhys Shellard. 

Nathan’s return to the fray lasted for about ten minutes before a dubious decision by referee Tim Hayes saw him leave the field again. A good Newport attack had developed from near the half way mark, and slick passing took the move close to the Pontypridd 22-metre line before Nathan stretched for and almost made an interception. He knocked on, and his action was not only judged to be worthy of a penalty (debatable but understandable), but of a yellow card as well (totally inexplicable!). 

Newport was now able to put some pressure of their own on the Pontypridd defence, but booming kicks from Adam Thomas and Tom Riley pinned the visitors back into their own half. In the end it was the boot of Dai Flanagan which added to the score. A neat dropped goal after 76 minutes and a penalty after 80 minutes saw Pontypridd comfortably home by 19-3. 

Although the game was hardly a classic, with both sides making quite a few errors and giving away too many unnecessary penalties, the Pontypridd faithful went away happy. The home side had dominated proceedings for most of the game against a surprisingly lack-lustre Newport, and had the safe boot of Flanagan to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 

Young centre Adam Thomas showed up well, and all the backs did their work competently against the resolute Newport defence and occasional sharp flurries in attack. The Black-and-Ambers captain and centre Scott Williams always caused problems in the mid-field, and was ably supported by former Pontypridd favourite Richard Fussell. 

However, it was the Ponty forwards which won the day. The pack was comfortable in the scrums, with Ian Poley having another good game, and Chris Dicomidis and Ryan Savage ruled the lineouts. This allowed the back row to roam, and all three did very well in attack and defence. Wayne O’Connor was everywhere, tackling like a fury and scooping up any loose ball to keep things moving.  

Bridgend 16 Aberavon 19

South Wales Echo

SIX defeats from six starts is hardly the start Bridgend were anticipating but at least in their latest setback to Aberavon there were signs of better things to come.

The Ravens went down 19-16 and skipper Gareth David endured the heartbreak of seeing his last-minute penalty hit with the crossbar.

The hosts’ team manager Hugh Williams-Jones admitted: "It was a game we could have won. The players put in a great effort and we now must plug away to get results."

By virtue of three tries to one, the Wizards just about deserved to win, Liam Gadd, Richard Carter and Steve Davies crossing for their five-pointers.

A sensational Dan Connolly try was Bridgend’s only reward other than 11 points from the boot of David.

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