Pontypridd 40 vs Bridgend Ravens 8

Pontypridd got their first win of the 2022/23 Indigo Premiership league campaign with a dominant 40-8 victory at home to Bridgend Ravens.

Ponty began brightly and took an early lead when winger Dale Stuckey crossed in the corner following good work from Joseph Scrivens and Niko Matawalu. The conversion from Scrivens was wide but Ponty had an early lead.

The home side were given another chance to extend their lead when they were awarded a penalty forty meters out. Despite the angle and distance, Scrivens made no mistake and took Ponty two scores ahead.

There was an immediate response from the visitors and they hit back through a try from full back, Edd Howley. Luke Price’s touchline conversion was missed and it was a three point game.

Ponty’s scrum had the upper hand on Bridgend and referee, Simon Mills, awarded the home side a penalty after Bridgend were shoved off their own ball. Scrivens made no mistake from the tee and the home side extended their lead.

The Ravens narrowed the deficit again when Luke Price was successful from the tee after Ponty were penalised for crossing.

The first half was a real end to end encounter and it was Ponty’s turn to score again when Scrivens’ penalty was successful after the away side were penalised for offside.

A break from centre Jordan Howells took Ponty into Bridgend’s 22 and the away side were penalised for not rolling away. Scrivens made no mistake with his kick from in front of the posts.

Scrivens was running the show at 10 for Ponty and he slotted another penalty, this time from the half way line to take his side twelve points ahead.

Bridgend were reduced to 14 men towards the end of the second half when centre, Jamie Murphy, was sent to the bin. From the resulting penalty, new man Scrivens made no mistake and took Ponty 15 points ahead at half time.

HALF TIME – Pontypridd 23-8 Bridgend

Ponty began the second half in a similar vain to how they finished the first and scored the first points of the half through yet another Scrivens penalty.

The Ravens had a period of sustained pressure in Ponty’s half and try scorer Howley made a dangerous break. However, a last ditch tackle, and turnover from Matawalu saw Ponty win a penalty and clear their lines.

After a period of sustained pressure, flanker Aled Ward crashed over from the back of a scrum to score Ponty’s second of the afternoon. Conversion from Scrivens was again successful.

In the aftermath of that try, Ponty replacement flanker, Sion Parry, was shown a red card by referee Simon Mills for an off the ball incident.

Despite being down to 14 men for the remaining minutes of the game, Ponty finished strongly and scored their third try of the game in the final play. Tommy Morgan was brought down off the ball after kicking through with the line at his mercy. Referee Mills adjudged this to be a penalty try and went under the posts to award the try to end a positive afternoon on a positive note for Ponty.

FULL TIME – Pontypridd 40-8 Bridgend (24/9/2022)

Match report – Adam Cleary

Pontypridd –

15. Matt Bancroft (Ewan Skuse). 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Tommy Morgan. 12. Jordan Howells (Ceri Morris). 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens. 9. Rory Harries (Joel Raikes).

1. Ben Stephens (Tom Devine). 2. Nathan Huish (Rob Jones). 3. Tom Harper (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Kristian Parker (c). 5. James Little (Chris Dicomidis). 6. Aled Ward. 7. Cally James. 8. Joe Miles (Sion Parry).

Subs: 16. Rob Jones. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Chris Dicomidis. 20. Sion Parry. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Ceri Morris. 23. Ewan Skuse

Tries: Stuckey, Ward, penalty-try

Conversion: Scrivens

Penalties: Scrivens x 7

Bridgend –

15. Edd Howley. 14. Caine Woolerton. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Jamie Murphy. 11. Mike Powell. 10. Luke Price. 9. Dylan Davies

1. Harry Olding. 2. Evan Yardley. 3. Liam Tobias. 4. Hemi Barnes. 5. Jack Pope. 6. Dafi Davies. 7. Zac O’Driscoll (c). 8. Jordan Collier

Subs: 16. Gareth Harvey. 17. O. Jordan. 18. Christian Brooke. 19. M. Davies. 20. A. Evans. 21. D. Pritchard. 22. Paul Short. 23. R. Williams

Tries: Howley

Penalty: Price

Referee: Simon Mills

Assistant referees: 1 – Wayne Davies, 2 – Ian Jones

Golden Bob MOTM: Joseph Scrivens

WRU Man of the Match: Joseph Scrivens