Pontypridd suffered a 42-10 defeat away to Cardiff in their penultimate 2021/22 Indigo Premiership fixture.
Pontypridd were awarded a penalty straight from kick off when Cardiff were penalised for holding on. However, Dale Stuckey’s penalty attempt drifted wide and the scores remained level.
Cardiff took the lead soon after when Harrison James crossed for a try. James converted his own try and the home side led by seven.
Ponty narrowed the gap to four when Stuckey knocked over a penalty from in front of the posts following a period of Ponty pressure.
However, Cardiff extended their lead when skipper Morgan Allen crashed over from close range. The conversion from James was good and Cardiff led by eleven.
Cardiff extended their lead again soon after when Ceri Morris’ attempted cross kick was charged down and centre James was once again the try scorer. James converted his own try again and the Blue & Blacks held a comfortable lead.
Ponty were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half time when Stuckey intercepted a loose pass to run in from just shy of half way. Stuckey converted his own try and it was an eleven point game again.
HALF TIME – Cardiff 21-10 Pontypridd
Cardiff got their bonus point try early in the second half when centre Harri Millard crossed in the corner. Jack Maynard’s touchline conversion added the extras.
Ponty continued to look for their second try of the evening but were unable to cross despite dominating possession and territory in the early stages of the second half.
Stuckey came inches away from his second try of the game after a break from Morgan Richards but he was hauled down just short of the line.
Cardiff got their fifth of the game after Evan Yardley scored from the back of a driving maul. Maynard extended Cardiff’s lead with the extras.
Ponty came inches away from a second try yet again after Bradley Roderick made a break and found replacement scrum half Lucas Welch, however the replacement scrum half was brought down short of the line and Cardiff were awarded a penalty.
Cardiff centre Harri Millard extended his sides lead again when he crossed for his second of the evening. Maynard’s conversion was good.
Replacement scrum half Welch came close yet again in the dying embers but was tackled just short of the line following a break by Morgan Richards. Despite some valiant attacking Pontypridd couldn’t quite cross for a deserved second half try and succumbed to an away defeat.
FULL TIME – Cardiff 42-10 Pontypridd (14/4/2022)
Match report – Adam Cleary
Pontypridd –
15. Llywarch ap Myrddin (Morgan Richards). 14. Jac Davies. 13. Bradley Roderick. 12. Garyn Payne (Matthew Lewis). 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Ceri Morris. 9. Joel Raikes (Lucus Welch).
1. Ben Stephens (Tom Devine). 2. Rob Jones (Ieuan Morris). 3. Tom Harper (Morgan Bosnako). 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. Chris Dicomidis. 6. Cai James (Ffinli Barber). 7. Cally James (Jack Pope). 8. Joe Miles
Subs: 16. Ieuan Morris. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Jack Pope. 20. Ffinli Barber. 21. Lucus Welch. 22. Matthew Lewis. 23. Morgan Richards
Try: Dale Stuckey
Conversion: Dale Stuckey
Penalty: Dale Stuckey
Cardiff –
15. Cameron Winnett. 14. Tom Habberfield. 13. Harri Millard. 12. Harrison James. 11. Jason Harries. 10. Dan Fish. 9. Jamie Hill
1. Rhys Barratt. 2. Alun Rees. 3. Ollie Drake. 4. James Richards. 5. Sean Moore. 6. Alex Everett. 7. Nathan Hudd. 8. Morgan Allen (c)
Subs: 16. Evan Yardley. 17. Eddie Drake. 18. Keiron Assiratti. 19. James Down. 20. Gwilym Bradley. 21. Ethan Fackrell. 22. Ethan Lloyd. 23. Jack Maynard
Tries: Harrison James x 2, Morgan Allen, Harri Millard x 2, Evan Yardley
Conversions: Harrison James x 3, Jack Maynard x 3
Referee: Gwyn Morris
Assistant referees: 1 – Simon Rees, 2 – Lloyd Hughes, 3 – Stuart Vaudin
TMO: Greg Morgan
WRU Man of the Match: Ben Stephens