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Page 1 of 2 Bedwas 11 - 33 Pontypridd Bedwas Scorers: One Try and two conversions by L Honton.
Pontypridd Scorers: Tries by Dafydd Lockyer, Chris Martenko and Wayne Evans (2).
Richard Langmead kicked three penalties and two conversions.
Aberavon lose ground on Ponty as their beaten 31 - 23 by league leaders Neath
Ponty.net Report: The early possession went mostly Bedwas’ way, and the home team benefiting through a penalty converted by full back Leigh Hinton. Richard Langmead was in turn off target with a similar attempt, as Ponty struggled to be competitive, losing the ball in contact and failing to find touch with their kicks. Bedwas looked far more menacing, attacking from deep, and once more turning pressure into points through a Leigh Hinton penalty. A half break by hooker Ben Phillips at last gave Pontypridd some momentum, putting points on the board through a penalty kicked by Langmead. The visitors however again lost possession in the tackle, allowing Bedwas to break away at pace, Dragons’ full back Leigh Hinton sprinting clear for a try to hoist his team into a lead of 11 pts to 3. Ponty were still struggling to generate any real momentum, but just keeping in touch courtesy of another Langmead penalty. The home pack were by far the more forceful marauding unit, maintaining their edge, whilst Ponty depended on disjointed attacks from deep which rarely threatened a score. Spurning some kickable penalty attempts, Ponty finally made headway into the home twenty-two with their driving play, with Bedwas flanker Craig Hill ordered off to the sin bin for infringing. The visitors’ policy of keeping the ball in hand finally paid off as centre Dafydd Lockyer burst through on a crash ball run to score, his try converted by Langmead. Frustrations boiled over into a fracas during a scrappy period of play, both teams trying their hand in attack before the half time whistle blew, Pontypridd rather fortunate to claim the advantage by 11 points to 13. With Chris Martenko an effective line out target, Ponty achieved a platform to attack as the second half resumed, and setting up an opportunity for Richard Langmead to stroke over another penalty. The visitors were now looking far more incisive in their forays upfield, bringing centres Lockyer and Riley into play with some good midfield angles. A series of short forward bursts by Ponty culminated in a touchdown claimed by lock Chris Martenko, the score again converted by Langmead. Ponty were now gaining the upper hand in what was still mainly a scrappy contest, claiming a near monopoly of possession to dominate play. A quick tap penalty taken by Wayne Evans saw the dynamic scrum half dart through for an opportunist try wide out, putting Ponty into a clear lead of 11 pts to 28. With Chris Dicomidis on for Dale McIntosh, Ponty defended against a period of home pressure, going into the final quarter of the game. Another substitution saw Grant Harrington coming on for Lee Evans, with Ponty sitting back to defend their lead, but showing plenty of aggression in their tackling duties. The game seemed in danger of losing its way in the enveloping gloom, but Ponty setting up camp in the Bedwas twenty-two, pressing hard for a score, as Leighton Davies came on for Ben Phillips. A rampant charge upfield by lock Chris Dicomidis provided Ponty with the breakthrough they needed, Wayne Evans up in support to cross for a try in the corner. As prop Ian Poley made the briefest of appearances, on as injury time replacement for Ryan Harford, Ponty saw out the dying minutes of the game to claim a deserved victory. This Boxing Day encounter had by no means turned out to be a Christmas cracker, but Ponty getting the festive present they wanted with a valuable away win by 11 pts to 33. Pontypridd 15.Jason Pocock. 14.Chris Clayton. 13.Tom Riley. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Matthew Nuthall. 10.Richard Langmead. 9.Wayne Evans. 1.Stuart Williams. 2.Ben Phillips (Leighton Davies). 3.Ryan Harford (Ian Poley). 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt (Chris Dicomidis. 5.Chris Martenko. 6.Lee Evans (Grant Harrington). 7.Adam Powell. 8.Nathan Strong.
Western Mail Report
PONTYPRIDD brushed Bedwas aside to confirm their third place in the Premier Division. After trailing 11-3 midway through the first half, Dale McIntosh and his men gave Bedwas a lesson in power rugby and rattled up 20 points without reply in the second half. Wayne Evans led the try charge, grabbing two in the later stages, while centre Dafydd Lockyear and lock Chris Martenko also snapped up touchdowns. Richard Langmead, who put in a good display at outside-half, converted two tries and kicked three penalties. Bedwas full-back Leigh Hinton, who is linked with the Dragons, scored all his team's points by kicking two penalties and crossing for a 21st-minute try. Ponty grew stronger up front as the game progressed thanks to the solid platform laid by front-row trio Stuart Williams, Ben Phillips and Ryan Harford. No 8 Nathan Strong and lively full-back Jason Pocock also caught the eye. Evans' second try in the 78th minute was a real beauty following a storming 40-metre burst by replacement lock Chris Dicomidis. Bedwas will be bitterly disappointed by their below-par performance, particularly after their recent impressive 17-10 victory over Aberavon.
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