Swansea 22-30 Pontypridd – Match Report

Pontypridd returned to winning ways in the Welsh Premiership with a 30-22 victory over Swansea, a win which included 5 tries.

Braces for both wingers Niko Matawalu and Tom Edwards was enough despite All Whites’ prop Cameron Jones getting a brace of tries of his own for the hosts.

Swansea opened the scoring through a penalty from fly-half Rhys Jones after Ponty were penalised for offside.

The home side created a couple of opportunities in the opening stages and scored the opening try through loosehead prop Cameron Jones who powered over the line.

Prop Jones’ jubilation was short-lived when he was shown a yellow card by referee Elliot Mayor after he was adjudged to have made no attempt to wrap his arms when entering a maul.

Ponty responded well with their first score of the afternoon through Fijian international Niko Matawalu who brushed off a tackle to score in the corner. Josh Phillips missed a tough conversion with the Valley Commandos playing into a strong wind in the first forty.

Straight from the resulting kick-off, scrum-half Harvey Nash made a break and linked up with Matawalu with the visitors looking to attack. Josh Phillips then gave an inside offload to winger Tom Edwards who crossed for the try giving Ponty a narrow lead 10 points to 8 after 23 minutes.

Following the end of his sin-bin period, Swansea prop Cameron Jones scored his second try of an eventful afternoon as he took a quick penalty and crashed over the line. Rhys Jones’ conversion was successful and the home side were back in front 15-10.

In a first half that yo-yoed, Ponty levelled the scores just before the interval when Niko Matawalu dotted down Ponty’s third try of the afternoon as the teams went into halftime level at 15 points a piece.

HALF TIME – Swansea 15-15 Pontypridd

The second half got underway and it was much less frantic than the first. Despite Ponty playing with the wind they had to wait until the 58th minute to get the all-important breakthrough when second row Macauley Cook crossed after a neat show and go for the visitors’ third try of the game. Josh Phillips’ superb touchline conversion put Ponty 22-15 ahead as the match approached the hour mark.

A few minutes later Swansea were back in business, a break from hooker Jamie Cox saw his captain Callum Bowden the all-important recipient of the pass and he scored from close range. Rhys Jones’ conversion levelled the scores as the game headed into the final quarter 22-all.

A thrilling match hung in the balance before Josh Phillips’ penalty nudged Ponty ahead 25-22 with 7 minutes left before winger Tom Edwards crossed for his second try in the corner in the 79th minute to earn Ponty a well deserved win by 30 points to 22.

It was a great response from the Ponty squad following defeat to Newport last time out as they claimed the full five points in Swansea. They return to Sardis Road on Thursday 14th March for the Valleys Derby against Merthyr.

FULL TIME – Swansea 22-30 Pontypridd (9/3/2024)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Josh Phillips. 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Kyan Lewis (Louis Rochefort-Shugar). 11. Tom Edwards. 10. Ben Burnell. 9. Harvey Nash (Joel Raikes).

1. Ben Stephens (Kian Mattravers). 2. Rob Jones (Curtis Greenslade). 3. Tom Harper (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Kristian Parker (c) (Mitch Barnard). 5. Macauley Cook. 6. Cai James (Aled Ward). 7. Cally James (Sion Parry). 8. Joe Miles.

Subs: 16. Curtis Greenslade. 17. Kian Mattravers. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Mitch Barnard. 20. Aled Ward. 21. Cally James. 22. Joel Raikes. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar.

Tries: Niko Matawalu x 2, Tom Edwards x 2, Macauley Cook

Conversion: Josh Phillips

Penalty: Josh Phillips

SWANSEA –

15. Harri Houston. 14. Morgan Rees. 13. Joe Thomas. 12. Sam Matthews. 11. Brandon Wood. 10. Rhys Jones. 9. Gareth J. Rees.

1. Cameron Jones. 2. Jamie Cox. 3. Tom Crockett. 4. Lloyd Ashley. 5. Matt Dodd. 6. Tristan Davies. 7. Callum Bowden (c). 8. Cai Davies.

Subs: 16. Llew Phillips-Taylor. 17. Daf Davies. 18. Ed Thompson. 19. Sam Pailor. 20. Joe Greaves. 21. Aron Hemmings. 22. Jacob Symes. 23. Marcus Brown.

Tries: Cameron Jones x 2, Callum Bowen

Conversions: Rhys Jones x 2

Penalty: Rhys Jones

Yellow Card: Cameron Jones

Referee: Elliot Mayor

Assistant referees: 1 – Simon Mills, 2 – Chris Oliver

WRU Man of the Match: Tom Edwards