By Zippy
February 19 2006

Review of the Konica Minolta Cup action yesterday. Ponty kept their cup dreams alive with a convincing win at Cross Keys, its the 1/4s next.

Cross Keys 5 Pontypridd 44

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

Pontypridd looked full of running straight from the kick off, with Dafydd Lockyer and Morgan Stoddart effectively breaking the gain line. Patiently recycling through numerous phases, Ponty created an overlap for winger Jason Pocock to squeeze in for a ty in the corner. Full back Stoddart again sliced through the home midfield defence, maintaining the visitors’ policy of all out attack. The Keys responded with their first meaningful foray into their opponents’ half, only for Ponty to respond with a kick and chase counter attack at pace.  There were turnovers taken by both sides in a thrilling period of play, before Ponty scrum half Wayne Evans latched on to a loose ball to dart over for an opportunist try.

Mistakes were being made in the sticky conditions, but Ponty getting the better of exchanges, keeping play up in the home half. A neat chip kick from Dai Flanagan invited winger Matthew Nuthall to gather and cross for a touchdown, which again went unconverted, but hoisting Ponty into an impressive lead of 0 pts to 15. The Valley Commandos remained fully committed to their tasks, sniping away in attack, and showing great aggression in the tackle when called upon to defend, their efforts epitomised by the sheer work rate of hooker Leighton Davies. A solid scrum, and effective line out gave Ponty a platform to maintain their dominance of a competitive encounter.

Some sloppy play and misplaced kicks by Ponty allowed the home team to forge upfield, but again well marshalled by the visitors’ defence. Ponty once again responded with a counter offensive launched up the wing by Matthew Nuthall, but failing to turn pressure into points as Dai Flanagan pulled wide a penalty attempt. With Grant Harrington coming on for the injured Dale McIntosh, Ponty kept driving into the home half, centre Dafydd Lockyer punching his way through the Keys’ midfield defence, and Flanagan up in support to cross for a try. Muscling possession in the loose, Ponty retained the upper hand, and despite another missed penalty from Flanagan, looked good for their interval lead of 0 pts to 20.

Pontypridd began the second half strongly, driving into the home twenty-two, but the Keys setting off on a snap counter offensive, their centre Gareth Turner just denied a touchdown by the covering of Jason Pocock. Poaching loose ball and gaining turnovers of possession, Ponty once more set off on a counter attack, winger Matthew Nuthall racing clear for a  try, which Dai Flanagan successfully converted.  Ponty were soon under pressure, defending against a concerted phase of Keys’ attack, and their lock Chris Martenko sin binned for a careless piece of impeding in loose play. The game continued to be played at a frenetic pace, with errors made contributing to the thrill factor.

The Keys kept up their momentum, centre Gareth Turner again the main attacking thrust, but Ponty showing a huge appetite in the tackle area. The visitors were soaking up a lot of pressure, but always looking menacing on the counter attack from breakdowns, in a full blooded and highly physical encounter. As Ian Poley came on for Ryan Harford, there followed a lengthy delay for an injury to Keys’ flanker Ben Watkins, who was stretchered off. The home team’s intense pressure finally paid off as they set off on a run down the flank from a line out take, replacement lock Scott Marasco claiming a try.

Paul Matthews now came on for Morgan Stoddart, going into the last ten minutes of contest that remained fast and furious to the end. Driving their opponents back relentlessly in the tackle, Ponty set up a field position for outside half Dai Flanagan to slot over a snap drop goal. The visitors now finished strongly, making further substitutions as Chris Dicomidis came on for Lee Evans, and Ben Rose for Adam Powell. Concerted pressure by Ponty in the home twenty-two culminated in a charge over the line by no 8 Nathan Strong, a wide angle conversion to follow from Flanagan. A neat chip and chase from Flanagan launched another Ponty foray to the Keys’ line, Jason Pocock impeded in attempting to ground the ball, and a penalty try awarded, which Flanagan converted with the last kick of the game.

A well contested cup tie came to an end with Ponty running out emphatic winners by a scoreline which just flattered their domination of the game, of  5 pts to 44.

Pontypridd:

15.Morgan Stoddart (Paul Matthews) 14.Jason Pocock  13.Gavin Dacey  12.Dafydd Lockyer  11.Matthew Nuthall  10.Dai Flanagan  9.Wayne Evans

1.Stuart Williams  2.Leighton Davies  3.Ryan Harford  (Ian Poley) 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt (Grant Harrington) 5.Chris Martenko  6.Lee Evans (Chris Dicomidis) 7.Adam Powell (Ben Rose)  8.Nathan Strong