Match Report – Superb Ponty claim bonus point win at Llandovery

Pontypridd came away from Church Bank with an impressive 34-18 victory over Llandovery after an outstanding display on the road.

Llandovery took an early lead when Tomi Lewis crossed after an initial break from Rhodri Jones took the Drovers into Ponty’s 22, some good hands from the Drovers’ backs saw Lewis cross. The conversion from Kristian Jones was wide and Ponty trailed by five.

In the 13th minute Ponty hit back with a try of their own. A break from Dale Stuckey down the wing saw him put a grubber kick in field which found Sion Parry who then passed to Ceri Morris to cross underneath the posts. Jake Lloyd’s conversion was good and Ponty led.

After a period of sustained pressure from the home side they retook the lead when hooker Jamie Cox crashed over from close range. Jones’ conversion was wide again but the Drovers held a slender three point lead.

It was an end to end start to the game and Ponty retook the lead when full back Cole Swannack crossed after a break from winger Joe Davies. Lloyd’s conversion was good from a tough angle and Ponty led by four with half an hour on the clock.

Ponty were reduced to 14 men when skipper Kristian Parker was sent to the bin with Llandovery camped on Ponty’s line.

Llandovery soon made their man advantage count when lock Joe Powell crashed over after juggling the ball. Jones’ conversion drifted wide again and the Drovers had a one point advantage.

The home side thought they’d got their bonus point try on the stroke of half time when Tomi Lewis crossed but referee Gareth Newman called it back for a forward pass in the build up.

Ponty looked to regain the lead just before half time with a penalty from just short of the half way line but Lloyd’s effort drifted just wide.

Half Time – Llandovery 15-14 Pontypridd

The Drovers extended their lead just after the half time interval when fly half Kristian Jones scored his first kick of the afternoon.

Ponty soon hit back however and closed the gap to just one point with another successful kick from Jake Lloyd.

Ponty then took the lead when Dale Stuckey took advantage of a loose pass from Will Thomas to run in from forty meters. Lloyd’s conversion was good and Ponty led by six.

Jake Lloyd extended Ponty’s lead with a penalty right in front of the posts which took Ponty two scores ahead.

Ponty came close to getting their bonus point try when a kick from Swannack found Stuckey who was hauled down just short of the line and was deemed to have knocked the ball on in the process.

The visitors did however get the bonus point when skipper Parker crossed in the corner. Stuckey added the extras with an impressive touchline conversion. That saw the end of the scoring for the afternoon with referee Gareth Newman blowing for full time soon after.

Full Time – Llandovery 18-34 Pontypridd

Match report – Adam Cleary

Pontypridd:

15. Cole Swannack. 14. Joe Davies (Morgan Richards). 13. Bradley Roderick. 12. Ceri Morris. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Jake Lloyd (Garyn Payne). 9. Dai Jones (Dafydd Buckland).

1. Ben Stephens (Joe Popple). 2. Rob Jones (Jack Walker). 3. Tom Harper (Garyn Daniels). 4. Kristian Parker ©. 5. Chris Dicomidis (Jack Pope). 6. Cai James. 7. Sion Parry (Cally James). 8. Joe Miles.

Subs: 16. Jack Walker. 17. Joe Popple. 18. Garyn Daniels. 19. Jack Pope. 20. Cally James. 21. Dafydd Buckland. 22. Garyn Payne. 23. Morgan Richards

Tries: Ceri Morris, Swannack, Stuckey, Parker

Conversions: Lloyd x 3, Stuckey x 1

Penalties: Lloyd x 2

Llandovery:

15. Tomi Lewis. 14. Callum Williams. 13. Rhodri Wall. 12. Rhodri Jones. 11. Aaron Warren. 10. Kristian Jones. 9. Lee Rees.

1. Craig Thomas. 2. Jamie Cox. 3. Berian Watkins. 4. Jack Jones ©. 5. Joe Powell. 6. Iestyn Rees. 7. Stuart Worrall. 8. Lloyd Pike

Subs 16. Liam Tobias. 17. Dino Dallavelle. 18. Ricky Guest. 19. Osian Davies. 20. Griff Evans. 21. Ashley Evans. 22. Will Thomas. 23. Scott Maynard

Tries: Tomi Lewis, Cox, Joe Powell,

Penalty: Kristian Jones

Referee: Gareth Newman

Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear and John Darcy

WRU Man of the Match: Joe Davies