Pontypridd 12 vs Cardiff 26

Pontypridd opened their 2022/23 Indigo Premiership account with a 26-12 defeat at home to last season’s champions, Cardiff.

Ponty began well and had the chance to take an early lead, but Matt Bancroft’s penalty fell just short from shy of the halfway line.

Cardiff began to get a foothold in the game having a spell of possession deep into Ponty’s 22. However, some brave defending saw Ponty prevent Cardiff from getting on the scoreboard and they managed to clear their lines.

The opening exchanges continued to be tight and Ponty missed another chance to take the lead when Bancroft’s penalty sailed wide.

It was the visitors who got the first points on the scoreboard when fly half Dan Fish knocked over a penalty to put Cardiff ahead.

Cardiff soon doubled their lead through another Fish penalty, after Ponty were penalised for offside, before being marched back ten meters.

After a spell of Ponty possession in Cardiff’s 22, the Blue & Blacks brought down a dangerous looking rolling maul. Flanker Olly Robinson was sent to the bin and the visitors were down to 14.

From the resulting penalty, Ponty kicked to the corner and set up a maul. It proved successful as Ponty crossed the line with Sion Parry the try scorer. The conversion was missed and Ponty trailed by one.

Despite being down to 14, Cardiff extended their lead further when Fish scored his third penalty of the evening to take his side four points ahead.

It was soon Ponty’s turn to have a man yellow carded when try scorer Sion Parry was sent to the bin.  Cardiff made Ponty pay when Dan Fish’s grubber kick was dotted down by Aaron Pinches. Fish converted and Cardiff led by eleven.

Moments later, on the stroke of half time, Cardiff scored again. A clever kick from Fish was collected by full back Cameron Winnett in the corner and he crossed the whitewash. Fish converted from the touchline and Cardiff went in for a half time with an 18 point lead.

HALF TIME – Pontypridd 5-23 Cardiff

Ponty needed to get the first points of the second half and they did just that when Joel Raikes crossed for a try. Some nice work from Niko Matawalu saw Ponty open up the Cardiff defence and Raikes was on the end of a nice team move. Stuckey converted to cut the deficit to eleven.

Ponty continued to put pressure on Cardiff’s defence and the home side were awarded a penalty. Ponty went for goal but penalty drifted wide and the deficit remained at eleven.

Cardiff got the last score of the game when Ben Burnell, now playing for the Blue & Blacks, made Ponty pay for missed opportunities and extended his sides lead further with a penalty.

The last few minutes of the game was a scrappy affair with both teams unable to build phases without being penalised by referee, Steff Edwards.

With the clock in the red, Burnell booted the ball into the stands to take the points back to Cardiff.

FULL TIME – Pontypridd 12-26 Cardiff (3/9/2022)

Match report – Adam Cleary

Pontypridd –

15. Lloyd Rowlands. 14. Niko Matawalu. 13. Tommy Morgan (Garyn Payne). 12. Ceri Morris. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Matt Bancroft (Jordan Howells). 9. Joel Raikes (Rory Harries).

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

Subs: 16. Ryan Spriggs. 17. Tom Devine. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Chris Dicomidis. 20. Cai James. 21. Rory Harries. 22. Jordan Howells. 23. Garyn Payne

Tries: Sion Parry, Joel Raikes

Conversion: Dale Stuckey

Cardiff –

15. Cameron Winnett. 14. Tom Habberfield. 13. Joe Goodchild. 12. Arron Pinches. 11. James Beal. 10. Dan Fish. 9. Ethan Lloyd

1. Marc Thomas. 2. Alun Rees. 3. Ollie Drake. 4. Sean Moore. 5. Joe Peard. 6. Nathan Hudd. 7. Olly Robinson. 8. Morgan Allen (c)

Subs: 16. Eddie Drake. 17. Joey Tomlinson. 18. Freddie Barnes. 19. Owen Lloyd. 20. Ellis Thomas. 21. Joe Williams. 22. Ben Burnell. 23. Jacob Lloyd

Tries: Pinches, Winnett

Conversions: Fish x 2

Penalties: Fish x 3, Burnell x 1

Referee: Steff Edwards

Assistant referees: 1 – Simon Rees, 2 – Paul Jones, 3 – Stuart Vaudin

TMO: Sean Brickell

Golden Bob MOTM: Niko Matawalu

WRU Man of the Match: Ben Stephens