By Zippy
October 22 2006

A review of the action in the Principality Welsh Premiership from Saturday 21st October. Both Ponty and Bridgend lost against Newport and Aberavon respectively.

Pontypridd 14 Newport 22

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

Before the match kicked off there was a minute silence in memory of the Aberfan disaster on 21st October 1966, when 144 people, including 116 children, were killed when a coal tip slid down the mountainside and engulfed a school and nearby houses. One of our former players, Dai Beynon, was a teacher at the school, and one of those who lost their lives.

The crowd had barely regained their seats before Newport were in the lead. After only two minutes play their hooker, Gethin Robinson, went over for a try, converted by James Dixon. Ponty were definitely caught napping, and now had a much more difficult job to do against the League leaders.

Play now moved backwards and forwards, with neither side able to gain much of an advantage. Then, as the first quarter came to an end, we were able to build some pressure on theirline, and eventually Chris Clayton ran in down the touchline for a well taken try. He had about 15 metres to cover, and no room to move, and did well to go over near the corner flag. Jason Pocock missed the difficult conversion, but we were back in the game.

The second quarter of the game saw Ponty exert considerable pressure on the Newport defence, but we were unable to convert it into points. As the first half came to an end we spurned the chance of a very kickable penalty to go for the lineout instead. Unfortunately we botched the lineout, lost the ball, and finished the half 5-7 down. The general view in the stand was that we should have been about ten points up, but simple mistakes and some poor decision making thwarted us on a number of occasions.

Nevertheless Ponty came out in the second half to play some of the best rubgy of the game. Although we could not get any tries during this period due to good defence by Newport, we did force errors on their part, and Jason Pocock kicked two excellent penalties in the 44th and 47th minutes to give us the lead by 11-7. It started to look as though we had it won, and another Pocock penalty at the end of the third quarter made it 14-7.

It was not to be, however, and we can be accused of handing the game back to them on a platter. We simply forgot that it is better to play the game in the opponent's half, and exhausted our efforts on fruitless rolling (or rather non-rolling) mauls. Our kicking game was poor, and we failed to make good use of the mighty boot of Neil Burnett to clear our lines. Instead we were often scrabbling for the ball somewhere between our 22 metre and half way line, and giving possession bak to Newport.

A key point in the game, which came while we were still in the lead, was a nasty injury to Damien Welch. He landed awkwardly from a lineout, and looked to have badly sprained his ankle. This left us with no locks on the field (The Chief had been subbed a few minutes before, and we had also taken off the massive Nicky Eaves), and with Nathan String and Ian Pocock doing the job for us. Still, it was our failure to take control and put our foot on the ball which lost us the game in the end.

On seventy minutes Newport eventually got the try they had been threatening to score for some time. Replacement full back Phil Osborne went over in the corner, but James Dixon failed with the conversion, and it was still 14-12 to us. However, with the game being played mostly in our half once again, they were awarded the inevitable penalty, kicked by James Dixon off one of the posts, to take the lead by 14-15. Although we struggles manfully to get the penalty we needed to win the game, it was not to be. Well into injury time wing Nathan Williams got another try, converted by Dixon, to bring the score to 14-22 to the visitors.

This was a game we could, and probably should have won. Damien Welch got the man-of-the-match award once again, although Adam Powell was another strong contender for the prize. Otherwise we competed well in the forward battle but lacked a bit of fizz in attack.

Pontypridd	14 - 22 (5 - 7)	Newport
Tries: C Clayton		Tries: G Robinson, J Tovey, N Williams
Pens: J Pocock 3		Pens: J Dixon
		Cons: J Dixon 2

Aberavon 23 Bridgend 22

From IC Wales

A NAIL-BITING match in which 10 of the 11 penalty shots at goal were kicked saw Aberavon full-back Liam Gadd decide it with a try seven minutes from time.

In Aberavon's best move of the game, losing 22-18, it was swept wide for centre Gareth Knox to send the flying Gadd in near the corner for his sixth try in eight games.

But the drama had not stopped and Bridgend full-back Gareth David went for what would have been his fifth penalty success with four minutes remaining, only to pull it wide.

Bridgend coach and former Wales international lock Chris Stephens exploded at the finish, saying: "The official was the worst referee in the Premier Division.

"We conceded 25 penalties, yet we never play to give that many away.

"I have had words with him. And I must say he was a 'homer'.

"I certainly would love to see the report of the former international referee Derek Bevan, who was assessing him. It is those sort of marginal decisions that will cost some side relegation at the end of the season.

"I am red-headed and do not hold back, but I have to say he would not let the game run and totally spoilt it.

"But credit Aberavon with coming back and scoring a good try."

Opposite number Mark Jones, the Aberavon forwards coach and another former international, was relieved and said: "I am very, very pleased with the win.

"The second-half performance was one of the Wizards that we really know.

"We had a big work ethic and the boys showed a huge will to win. The weather never let the game be a spectacle, but it shows how close it has all become.

"Each team is now capable of beating each other."

It was always going to be a close affair with huge downpours of rain not helping handling, yet Bridgend scored 2-1 on tries and there were times when an Aberavon touchdown looked unlikely.

Davies landed all his five penalties and though he missed the conversion of Gadd's try and once kicked straight out, his tackling and running was first-class.

David and namesake Mark David played equally well for Bridgend and the fact that they had five former Aberavon players in their ranks meant that there was always going to be a bit of needle in it.

There were running battles between the front rows and eventually Aberavon prop replacement and Bridgend hooker Ieuan Dobbs had yellow cards, but it all helped keep the spectators on edge.

Marvin Thomas, an ex-Wizard, led Bridgend superbly and Brendan Roach, that wily old campaigner, was always dangerous at scrum-half, while in the lineouts Mike Powell and Aberavon captain Chris Gittins had a rare battle. Mike Harris was superb at loose-head for Aberavon and Darren Ryan's presence as replacement centre was a huge boost.

David kicked Bridgend into a fifth-minute lead.

Davies soon equalised and by the 20th minute the pair shared further goals, awarded by referee Gwyn Morris of Cardiff.

A third Davies kick took Aberavon in front, but a smart Bridgend counter-attack saw Gareth David send Richie Radford over in the corner.

Right on the interval, Gadd was caught on his weaker left-foot and again Bridgend ran it for centre Darren Simpson to cross and make it 19-9 at the break.

Further penalties by Davies, David, Davies and Davies again gave Bridgend a four-point lead, but when Davies scorned a kick to punt to the corner, Aberavon ran it wide and Gadd sent the crowd wild as he went over.

Aberavon	23 - 22 (9 - 19)	Bridgend
Tries: L Gadd		Tries: R Radford, D Simpson
Pens: J Davies 6		Pens: G David 4

Welsh Premiership table

21 October 2006   Team P W D L F A PTS 1 Newport 8 6 0 2 224 126 18 2 Neath 8 5 1 2 250 158 16 3 Ebbw Vale 8 5 1 2 154 144 16 4 Cardiff 8 5 0 3 222 182 15 5 Aberavon 8 5 0 3 182 174 15 6 Pontypridd 8 4 0 4 167 206 12 7 Maesteg 8 4 0 4 170 162 12 8 Llanelli 8 3 1 4 193 184 10 9 Cross Keys 8 3 1 4 185 178 10 10 Bridgend 8 3 0 5 173 194 9 11 Swansea 8 3 0 5 180 227 9 12 Llandovery 8 3 0 5 154 224 9 13 Bedwas 8 3 0 5 132 168 9 14 Glamorgan Wanderers 8 2 0 6 159 218 6