Defeated again - Pontypridd 23 - 47 Neath

By Web Team
May 14 2003

A Ponty team made up largely of Under 21's and permit players took to the field against a near enough full strength Neath side but the inexperience of the Ponty team showed as Neath ran in seven tries to Ponty's two. For a full report read on.

PONTYPRIDD 23 - 47 NEATH

If a Ponty supporter went to watch this game, the chances are you would have known more of the Netah team than the Ponty team which emphasised the current problems at Sardis Road. Only Davey, Wyatt, Bryant, Jenkins, John and Cockbain were the senior players available for this tie and unfortunately they were not able to prevent a defeat from the near full strength Neath All Blacks. 

Pontypridd may have lost this game to a strong Neath side but at least the youngsters in the Ponty team tried to play some rugby with winger Richard Fussell being particularly impressive.

Ponty took the lead early on with a Neil Jenkins penalty but then two tries in quick succession for Shaun Connor and James Storey put Neath into a commanding 14 - 3 lead.

However, to their credit, Ponty frequently turned the ball over and were rewarded with a try for Gareth Wyatt out wide, converted by Jenkins. A penalty for Jenkins made the score even closer but Neath went on to score another two tries before the break for Paul Jones and Brett Sinkinson.

A half time score of 28 - 16 meant Ponty still had a slim chance of getting back into the game but Neath scored three tries immediately from the restart through Mokelutu, Connor and Steve Jones. 

However as Neath now led 47 - 16, Ponty were going to try and make the score look a bit more respectable and did so through youngster Richard Fussell who ran 70 metres after a turnover to score Ponty's second try. From then on Ponty were camped in the Neath 22 with Neil Jenkins, Lee Thomas and Fussell coming close to scoring but all were held up before grounding the ball. Also, the Ponty forwards constantly won the scrums as a result of Brett Sinkinson being sent to the sin bin for killing the ball but due to some resilient last ditch defending and frequent offending, Ponty were unable to break through for a score which would have got them up to 30 points.

The final score was 23 - 47 and the game was always going to be won by Neath but if tighter defending just after the break could have prevented a couple of the three quick tries scored by the visitors the  result may have been closer.

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