Pontypridd 47 vs Clifton 26

Clifton enjoyed a wealth of early possession, with the home defence working hard to protect their twenty-two line. Persistence finally paid off for the visitors as winger Finlay Sharp lived up to his name with a telling break to score a try which outside half Brad Barnes converted.

Ponty finally got out of low gear with a quick tap penalty, launching a fluent attack with scrum half Wayne Evans sniping over for a try which Diggy Bird converted. The home team were now growing in confidence, back rower Morgan Sieniawski going over from a catch and drive but his score disallowed.

The game was scrappy as it reached the half hour mark, with the referee’s whistle prominent, but Ponty then finishing the first half strongly. Full back Lloyd Rowlands launched a dynamic counter for winger James Gahan to cross, then following a series of drives, lock Josh Hawkins powering over, both tries converted by Bird to put Ponty 21pts to 7 ahead at the interval.

It was Clifton again who applied the early pressure following the restart, going close to scoring in the corner. Ponty responded with some good phases of attack, and despite numerous changes being made ten minutes in, maintaining momentum to send centre Geraint Walsh over for a try which Bird converted.

The Bristol side were next up on the offensive, launching a line-out drive for flanker Rhys Luckwell to claim a try which Barnes converted, then sending winger Bentley Halpin over for another score wide out.

Just as the game seemed to ebb away from Ponty they launched a snap attack for replacement centre Jarrod Rees to stretch over for a try which was converted by Rhys Morgan. The home side continued to press, full back Lloyd Rowlands finishing off a wide move with a touchdown, then flanker Harvey Connolly going over from a break instigated by Walsh, his try converted by Morgan.

The last word went to Clifton who drove relentlessly to the home line, centre Marcus Beer going over for the last try of the afternoon, with Barnes’ conversion bringing up a final score-line of 47pts to 26.