Pontypridd 59 vs Llanelli 14

Llanelli enjoyed a wealth of early possession, pressing ever closer to the home line and finally making a breakthrough as full back Leon Randell barged over for a try which Lewis Williams converted. Ponty were being penalised and committing errors, barely encroaching their opponents’ half during the first ten minutes.

A snap attack by winger Alex Webber finally gave Ponty momentum upfield and it was Webber who then rounded off a wide attack to cross for a try. The home team were moving up the gears, full back Dale Stuckey speeding over for a try which Diggy Bird converted on eighteen minutes. Ponty were by now full of attacking intent, Webber going close in the corner before prop Keelan Marney was dispatched to the sin-bin, but then from a line-out steal no8 Hemi Barnes charging over for another score.

Llanelli were able to respond, creating an overlap for winger Ryan Davies to cross wide out, the try well converted by Lewis Williams. As Ponty resumed on the offensive, Llanelli winger Kalum Evans was shown the yellow card, home pressure rewarded as Diggy Bird sniped through for a close range try which he then converted to register an interval score-line of 24pts to 14.

Ponty continued to advance into the second half, lock Chris Dicomidis galloping over wide out for a try which Bird again converted. The game’s momentum was halted during a lengthy delay before Llanelli outside half Lewis Williams was stretchered off. Normal service was resumed as Ponty countered after taking a high ball, Alex Webber racing to the try line, his score converted from a wide angle by Bird.

All attempts by Llanelli to edge back into contention were thwarted during a period of play interspersed by injuries going into the final quarter. Ponty were striving hard to regain the initiative, a wide attack culminating in a try claimed by replacement Wayne Evans and converted by Bird. A Dafydd Lockyer break again took Ponty up to their opponents’ twenty-two, a series of shunts to the line bringing the reward of a try claimed by hooker Huw Dowden and converted by Bird. A dominant second half display by Pontypridd was rounded off in style as a counter from deep involving neat interplay sent Chris Dicomidis over for a final score, converted with the last kick of the game by Diggy Bird to seal a well earned victory by 59pts to 14.

Pontypridd:

15.Dale Stuckey. 14.Lewis Williams. 13.Gary Williams (Ceri Sweeney). 12.Dafydd Lockyer – cpt. 11.Alex Webber (Geraint Walsh). 10.Diggy Bird. 9.Joel Raikes (Wayne Evans).

1.Huw Owen (Ian George). 2.Joe Page (Huw Dowden). 3.Keelan Marney (Joe Popple). 4.Sean Moore. 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Morgan Sieniawski (Sion Edwards). 7.Ross Morgan (Josh Hawkins). 8.Hemi Barnes.

Tries: Webber (15, 49); Stuckey (17); Barnes (31); Bird (39); Dicomidis (44, 79); Evans (67); Dowden (75)

Cons: Bird (18,40,45,51,68,76,80)

Llanelli:

15.Leon Randell (Glen Williams). 14.Ashley Evans. 13.Ben Atkins. 12.Kieran Griffiths. 11.Ryan Davies (Joe Hutchins). 10.Lewis Williams (Jake Newman). 9.Matthew Flanagan.

1.Rhys Thomas (Dylan Phillips). 2.Callum Jenkins (Ben Edwards). 3.Richard Bassett (Tom Kaijaks). 4.Ashleigh Hyndman. 5.Dyfed Morgan (Jake Simms). 6.Joel James. 7.Sean Jenkins (Lee Thomas). 8.Nathan Hart – cpt.

Tries: Randell (7); Davies (35)

Cons: Williams (8,37)

Golden Bob man of the match: Alex Webber

WRU man of the match:- Sean Moore

Referee:-  Elfyn Morris-Roberts

Attendance: 1,380