Bridgend Ravens 18 vs Pontypridd 8

Two tries for the hosts set them on their way as Ponty struggled for momentum throughout the match.

The opening score went to the hosts after a penalty from Luke Price after his first attempt sailed wide of the posts.

Ponty responded with some attacking intent and would have got their first points if it wasn’t for a desperate tackle from fullback Edd Howley.

Fly-half Ben Burnell saw his penalty effort go wide before the afternoon went from bad to worse for the visitors as they were reduced to 14 men – a penalty try was awarded with winger Sam Hayman showed a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.

The visitors failed to respond with much intent and conceded a second try after Bridgend inside centre Rhys Williams made a break and fly-half Price was in support to score.

Burnell did see a penalty attempt go through the posts but a disappointing first half saw Ponty trail 15-3 at the break.

HALF TIME – Bridgend 15-3 Pontypridd

The second half started poorly for Pontypridd with many errors, a kick going out on the full from Tommy Morgan summed up the opening 50 minutes. However, Ponty did manage to get their first try of the afternoon after Hayman redeemed himself following his yellow card by crossing over in the corner to narrow the scores.

Ponty then started threatening, Cai James made a break but was hauled down just short of the try line after a desperate tackle from Price.

Winger Dale Stuckey made his return from injury with a couple of neat moments which included a couple of breaks in the final quarter after a couple of accurate cross field kicks from Burnell.

Ponty threated late on but it wasn’t enough as Luke Price slotted his second penalty of the afternoon to seal the victory for the home team.

Ponty will be looking to get back on the winning trail when Swansea visit Sardis Road in their next fixture.

FULL TIME – Bridgend 18-8 Pontypridd (14/1/2023)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Alex Lloyd. 14. Sam Hayman (Ewan Skuse). 13. Tommy Morgan (Jordan Howells). 12. Ceri Morris. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Ben Burnell. 9. Joel Raikes (Lucus Welch).

1. Ben Stephens (Tom Devine). 2. Rob Jones (Gavin Parry). 3. Tom Harper (Garyn Daniel). 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. James Little (Aled Ward). 6. Cai James. 7. Sion Parry. 8. Joe Miles (Mitch Barnard).

Subs: 16. Gavin Parry. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Garyn Daniel. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Aled Ward. 21. Lucus Welch. 22. Jordan Howells. 23. Ewan Skuse

Try: Hayman

Penalty: Burnell

Yellow Card: Hayman

BRIDGEND –

15. Edd Howley. 14. Caine Woolerton. 13. Stuart Floyd Ellis. 12. Rhys Williams. 11. Iwan Griffith. 10. Luke Price. 9. Chris Williams

1. Harry Olding. 2. Gareth Harvey. 3. Liam Tobias. 4. Ben Thomas. 5. Jack Pope. 6. Jordan Collier. 7. Zac O’Driscoll (c). 8. Reuben Tucker

Subs: 16. Lee Murphy. 17. Owen Jordan. 18. Curtis Hicks. 19. Hemi Barnes. 20. Iestyn Merriman. 21. Paul Short. 22. Joseph Gatt. 23. Tyler Williams

Tries: Penalty-try, Price

Penalties: Price x 2

Referee: Rhys Jones

Assistant referees: 1 – Jason Griffiths, 2 – Steve Harwood

WRU Man of the Match: Sion Parry