Swansea 19 vs Pontypridd 54

After a stuttering start to the match, Pontypridd made an early breakthrough as scrum half Jamie Hill took a quick tap penalty on halfway to race through the home defence, centre Cameron Lewis up in support to finish off with a try which fellow centre Ceri Sweeney converted.

From the re-start winger Geraint Walsh broke down the flank and chipped the on-rushing full back with flanker Morgan Sienawkski gathering the bouncing ball to cross out wide. The home side finally got themselves back in the hunt when number 8 Jon Fox crashed over from close range.

On the half hour mark Ponty showed an intent to move possession quickly through many hands with the Swansea defence struggling to cope. When the ball reached Ceri Sweeney in midfield he drew the opposition defence with a classic dummy and ghosted over for a well worked try. The playmaker then got up and converted his own try.

With half time approaching Ponty no8 Alun Lawrence forced a turnover on half way, the ball again passed quickly wide for full back Lloyd Rowlands to cross for his side’s bonus point try. Centre Ceri Sweeney again converted to see the visitors go in at half time holding a deserved 5pts to 26 advantage.

Straight from the re-start Ponty went on the offensive and from a well worked line-out platform flanker Rhys Shellard crashed through the home defence to score under the posts, Sweeney easily converting the try.

The visitors were now relentless in their quest for points and from close range lock Sean Moore dived over for a try which Ceri Sweeney again converted. Swansea regrouped to take play up into the visitors’ half, replacement prop Tom Sloane claiming a try which full back Luke Griffiths converted.

There was however no let up in the Valley Commandos’ onslaught, late tries by replacements Sion Edwards and George Thomas, both converted by Ceri Sweeney, seeing Ponty past the half century mark. It was Swansea who finished with a flourish, a try at the death scored by wing Dan Howells, converted by replacement Owen Howe, proving to be only a consolation with Pontypridd claiming an emphatic victory by 19pts to 54.

Swansea:

15.Luke Griffiths. 14.Andrew Claypole (Ben Cambriani). 13.Rhys Williams (Owen Howe). 12.Jake Randall. 11.Dan Howells. 10.Richard Fussell. 9.Rhodri Wells (Josh Guy).

1.Jack Powell (Tom Sloane). 2.Paul John (Josh Clark). 3.Fenton Holder (Lewys Bullock). 4.Sam Kiley. 5.Matt Dodd (Tudor Hughes). 6.Jon Vaughan. 7.Ben Davies. 8.Jon Fox – cpt (Steff Jones).

Tries: Fox (11); Sloane (70); Howells (80)

Cons: Griffiths (70); Howe (80)

Pontypridd:

15.Lloyd Rowlands (Rhys Morgan). 14.Matthew Billett (George Thomas). 13.Cameron Lewis. 12.Ceri Sweeney. 11.Geraint Walsh. 10.Diggy Bird. 9.Jamie Hill (Joel Raikes).

1.Ian George (Huw Owen). 2.Huw Dowden (Joe Page). 3.Kieran Assiratti (Will Davies-King). 4.Sean Moore. 5.Chris Dicomidis – cpt (Ross Barnes). 6.Morgan Sieniawski. 7.Rhys Shellard (Sion Edwards). 8.Alun Lawrence.

Tries: Lewis (5); Sieniawski (6); Sweeney (30); Rowlands (38); Shellard (41); Moore (49);

Edwards (75); Thomas (77)

Cons: Sweeney (5, 30, 38, 41, 49, 76, 77)

WRU man of the match: Jamie Hill

Referee:  Jason Bessant

Attendance: 600