Pontypridd 10 vs Llandovery 30

Ponty played through numerous early phases, probing but without threatening a score, before allowing Llandovery to strike back and draw first blood as outside half Jack Maynard put over a penalty from in front of the posts. The home team suffered another blow as captain Dafydd Lockyer retired hurt, but still managed to advanced through a Dale Stuckey break only to be defied by a knock-on.

The Drovers pulled further ahead courtesy of another Maynard penalty as Ponty now struggled for possession, losing the skirmishes around the fringes of play. The home team finally broke their duck as outside half Ceri Sweeney struck over a penalty only for Llandovery to respond in style, countering from a fielded box kick to send Maynard cruising in close to the posts, then converting his own try.

Ponty applied pressure following a Gary Williams charge, but were too often undone by their own errors, allowing Llandovery back into contention, pressurising a suspect home defence. A scrappy first period came to an end with Ponty trailing by 3pts to 13.

It was deja-vu as play resumed, Ponty striving to attack but committing errors which were replicated by Llandovery during a fast and loose period of play. The visitors forced a turnover allowing scrum half Lee Rees to launch an opportunist kick and chase to pounce for a try.

Ponty were already chasing the game, playing trough the phases and applying concerted pressure, full back Lloyd Rowlands going close and flanker Morgan Sianiawski held up on the line. A series of attacking scrums ensued before Ponty were finally rewarded, Sieniawski charging over for a try which Sweeney converted. The Drovers’ response once more was emphatic, pressing into the home twenty-two with flanker Stuart Worrall going over from close range, his try converted by Maynard.

As Ponty attempted to attack from all angles, taking risks in their own territory, it was Llandovery who struck the final decisive blow, a dynamic counter culminating in a try scored by replacement hooker Ricky Guest to register a deserved bonus point win by 10pts to 30.

Pontypridd:

15.Lloyd Rowlands. 14.Alex Webber (Lewis Williams). 13.Gary Williams. 12.Dafydd Lockyer – cpt (Diggy Bird). 11.Dale Stuckey. 10.Ceri Sweeney. 9.Joel Raikes (Jamie Hill).

1.Corey Domachowski (Ian George). 2.Joe Page. 3.Kieran Assiratti (Will Davies-King). 4.Josh Hawkins (Sion Edwards). 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Sean Moore. 7.Morgan Sieniawski. 8.Jake Thomas (Ross Barnes).

Try: Sieniawski (61)

Con: Sweeney (62)

Pen: Sweeney (20)

Llandovery:

15.Kristian Jones. 14.Lee Williams. 13.Corey Baldwin (Rhodri Wall). 12.Rhodri Jones. 11.Aaron Warren. 10.Jack Maynard. 9.Lee Rees (Scott Maynard).

1.Berian Watkins (Jamie Hughes). 2.Dafydd Hughes (Ricky Guest). 3.Scott Jenkins (Llyr Green). 4.Jack Jones. 5.Joe Powell (Morgan Jones). 6.Lewis Ellis-Jones. 7.Stuart Worrall. 8.Richard Brooks – cpt (Duane Eager).

Tries: J. Maynard (22); Rees (46); Worrall (66); Guest (79)

Cons: J. Maynard (23, 67)

Pens: J. Maynard (7, 18)

Golden Bob / WRU man of the match: Morgan Sieniawski

Referee:  Wayne Davies

Attendance: 1,350