Pontypridd 29 vs Carmarthen Quins 20

Pontypridd made it three wins in a row at Sardis Road following a convincing victory against Carmarthen Quins on Thursday night.

With the game televised via the S4C Clic cameras, Ponty managed to continue their winning ways – tries from Curtis Greenslade and Liam Lloyd plus 19 points from the boot of Josh Phillips was enough to seal victory.

It was a scrappy start in tricky conditions for both sides with a turnover from second row Macauley Cook denying an early chance for the visitors.

Following a break from Josh Phillips, he chipped ahead for Ben Burnell who was taken down just short of the try line, Carmarthen Quins scrum-half Archie Hughes made the tackle but was penalised and was shown a yellow card as he didn’t release the ball carrier.

Ponty turned to the rolling maul, which saw hooker Curtis Greenslade bundling over from close-range to score, fullback Josh Phillips converted in what was a good start for the hosts.

The home side used the man advantage to good effect when Phillips added a long-range penalty in the 17^th minute to extend Ponty’s lead to 10-0.

Phillips notched up a further three points a couple of minutes later as the Valley Commandos scored 13 points during the 10 minute yellow card period.

Quins eventually got their first points of the evening through the boot of fullback Jac Wilson, before Ponty went over for their second try of the evening – a chip-kick from Ben Burnell bounced away from fullback Wilson and the ball fell nicely for winger Liam Lloyd who gathered and scored. Josh Phillips kicked the conversion and Ponty were 20 points to 3 up on the half hour mark.

Visiting fullback Wilson added his second penalty of the game just before halftime, but it was Ponty that headed down the tunnel with a healthy 20-6 lead.

HALF TIME – Pontypridd 20-6 Carmarthen Quins

Ponty’s Phillips started the second half just like the first with another long range penalty, before Quins went over for their first try of the night when outside centre Iestyn Gwilliam hit a lovely angle to break through the defence, Wilson added the extras.

There was just over 50 minutes on the clock at this point in the match and Quins had worked hard to get themselves back into the contest, although they were still 23-13 behind. Josh Phillips then kicked his fourth penalty of the evening from just inside Quins’ half to push the lead to 13 points at 26-13.

A fine individual try from Quins replacement Rhodri Davies gave the crowd a tense final 15 minutes when Wilson’s conversion narrowed the scores down to just six points before a final, late penalty from Phillips, his fifth of evening sealed the deal for the hosts.

Ponty’s win takes them up to joint-fifth in the Premiership with Merthyr – perfectly poised as the Valley Commandos travel to The Wern to play the Ironmen next Saturday 2nd December.

FULL TIME – Pontypridd 29-20 Carmarthen Quins (23/11/2023)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Josh Phillips. 14. Liam Lloyd. 13. McCauley Rowley. 12. Ben Burnell. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Joseph Scrivens (Garyn Smith). 9. Harvey Nash (Joel Raikes).

1. Tom Devine (Ben Stephens). 2. Curtis Greenslade (Gavin Parry). 3. Tom Harper (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Macauley Cook. 5. Chris Dicomidis (Joe Miles). 6. Aled Ward. 7. Cai James (Sion Parry). 8. Kristian Parker (c) (Cally James).

Subs: 16. Gavin Parry. 17. Ben Stephens. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Joe Miles. 20. Sion Parry. 21. Cally James. 22. Joel Raikes. 23. Garyn Smith.

Tries: Curtis Greenslade, Liam Lloyd

Conversions: Josh Phillips x 2

Penalties: Josh Phillips x 5

CARMARTHEN QUINS –

15. Jac Wilson. 14. Dylan Richards. 13. Iestyn Gwilliam. 12. Leon Randell. 11. Kalum Evans. 10. Harri Williams. 9. Archie Hughes.

1. James Newnian. 2. Garan Williams. 3. Ifan James. 4. Caleb Salmon. 5. Josh Helps. 6. Tom Phillips (c). 7. Tom Curry. 8. Lewys Millin.

Subs: 16. Steffan Phillips. 17. Sean Janes. 18. Ryan Bean. 19. Lee Taylor. 20. Gethin Davies. 21. Rhodri Davies. 22. Josh Batcup. 23. Corum Nott.

Tries: Iestyn Gwilliam, Rhodri Davies

Conversions: Jac Wilson x 2

Penalties: Jac Wilson x 2

Yellow Card: Archie Hughes

Referee: Gareth Newman

Assistant referees: 1 – Elliot Mayer, 2 – Dai Cambourne, 3 – Neil Perkins

Golden Bob Man of the Match: Aled Ward

WRU Man of the Match: Aled Ward