Aberavon 25 - 17  Pontypridd

Some Consolation - Cardiff lose 41 - 20 to Neath and are bottom of the Premiership... 

From Ponty.net 

An incisive break from centre Tom Riley set Ponty off on the first meaningful attack of the game, the visitors starting off in creative mood. Using back rowers Strong and Evans as their battering rams, Ponty continued on the offensive, and  were rewarded as outside half Dai Flanagan stroked over a penalty with five minutes gone. Some swift recycling and good support work kept Ponty in the ascendancy, driving into the home twenty-two. With the ball kept in play for long periods, Ponty remained the dominant force, but as yet unable to threaten the home try line.

Aberavon put together a big forward shunt to make advances upfield, but outside half Jamie Davies pulling wide a penalty attempt. The home team were by now far more competitive, working off a strong scrummage, and gaining a points return as Davies put over a successful penalty kick. Ponty were meanwhile struggling for any meaningful possession, and with the penalty count rising steadily against them. Aberavon showed a willingness to run at their opponents, winger Richard Carter going close to scoring in the corner. A big scrum by the home pack resulted in the awarding of a penalty try, which Jamie Davies duly converted. Ponty tried desperately to launch counter attacks from deep, utilising the pace of Nuthall and Stoddart, but too often penalised to maintain any momentum.

Living off scraps of possession, the visitors were pinned back in their own half, suffering a torrid end to the first period. Bossed about in the loose and failing to achieve a platform in the set pieces, Ponty were under the cosh. The referee’s arm continued to favour the home team, and with Ponty lock Dale McIntosh sin binned for handling on the floor. A concerted drive from the home pack culminated in a try claimed by hooker Chris Wells, and again converted by Davies, consigning Ponty to an interval deficit of 17 pts to 3.

With Leighton Davies coming on in place of Ben Phillips, Ponty just edged the early exchanges of the second half, but Dai Flanagan well short with a long range penalty attempt. The visitors were now far more vigorous in contesting loose ball, putting some width on their game, but Matthew Nuthall knocking on when  freed on the overlap. The Wizards in turn were forceful on the counter offensive, kicking effectively for field position. Ponty now sent on the cavalry, Daniel Hitchings replacing Morgan Stoddart, Stuart Williams for Ian Poley and Grant Harrington for Chris Martenko.

Aberavon still laid claim to the greater share of possession, pounding relentlessly at the gain line, and finally working centre Paul Bamsey over for a try in the corner, with fifty-eight minutes gone. With Adam Powell coming on for Lee Evans, and Ian Poley returning to the fray for the injured Gerald Cox, Ponty were still intent on playing a wide game, but failing to do so without a forward platform. Yet another substitution saw scrum half Ryan Harris coming on for Gareth Jones as Ponty gamely kept plugging away in attack, centre Tom Riley bursting through in midfield but yet again denied by a knock on.

It was a dynamic break from Dafydd Lockyer which finally gave Ponty impetus over the gain line, winger Matthew Nuthall up in support to cruise in for a try, which Dai Flanagan converted. Into the final ten minutes of the game, Ponty were now chasing an unlikely win, but looking ever more dangerous with the ball in hand. A well judged cross kick from Flanagan was fielded by Dan Hitchings , who fed a scoring pass to Matthew Nuthall, with the conversion to follow from Flanagan. Incredibly, Ponty had fought their way back into contention, setting up a thrilling climax to the game. Throwing everything into attack, Ponty were stung by a snap Aberavon counter offensive, the home team claiming vital points through a Jamie Davies penalty. The contest remained highly competitive into injury time, but the result sealed in Aberavon’s favour, by a margin of 25 pts to 17.

Pontypridd:

15.Morgan Stoddart  (Dan Hitchings) 14.Chris Clayton 13.Tom Riley 12.Dafydd Lockyer 11.Matthew Nuthall 10.Dai Flanagan 9.Gareth Jones (Ryan Harris)

1.Gerald Cox (Ian Poley) 2.Ben Phillips (Leighton Davies) 3.Ian Poley  (Stuart Williams) 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt. 5.Chris Martenko (Grant Harrington)  6.Lee Evans (Adam Powell)  7.Rhys Shellard 8.Nathan Strong

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