Pontypool 41 vs Pontypridd 30

Pontypridd suffered their first defeat in three games in a high scoring affair away at Pontypool Park.

Despite tries from McCauley Rowley, Joe Miles and Rob Jones, Pooler ran in five tries of their own in an end to end battle.

Pontypridd opened the scoring with an early penalty by fullback Josh Phillips.

But Pontypool picked up the first try of the afternoon following some strong forward carrying which saw captain Scott Matthews cross from short range, fly-half Matthew Jarvis added the routine conversion – Jarvis then added a penalty to extend Pooler’s lead to 10-3.

Pooler were nearly in for their second try following a pre-planned move from the lineout which saw captain Matthews make a break but the final pass didn’t stick.

Jarvis added his second penalty of the first half as Pontypool controlled the opening 30 minutes.

Pontypridd responded with a try of their own before the interval when they exposed an overlap, a short ball from Phillips to centre Ryan Wilkins who made the break before passing to McCauley Rowley who dotted down – the fullback added the conversion to narrow the scores to 13-10.

HALF TIME – Pontypool 13-10 Pontypridd

Pontypool continued where they left off in the first half with scrum-half Morgan Lloyd darting through the Ponty defence to extend their lead, Jarvis converted to give the hosts a ten point advantage by 20 points to 10.

Fullback Phillips kicked his second penalty to narrow the scores as Ponty looked to get back into the game as it entered the final quarter.

A Ponty error from winger Liam Lloyd proved costly when Pooler winger Walker Price capitalised when he kicked ahead and regathered the ball to score a third try for the hosts.

Pontypridd were right back in the contest when number 8 Joe Miles crossed for a try from a rolling maul and Phillips’ successful conversion saw the visitors trail 27-20 with 15 minutes to go.

Phillips converted a penalty to narrow the scores to just four points, before replacement tighthead prop Ollie Drake wrapped up the four-try bonus point, with Jarvis remaining at 100% with the boot with a well struck conversion.

There was still time for one final try for the hosts, with replacement loosehead prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths crashing over from short range.

Pontypridd replacement hooker Rob Jones had the final say with his third try in as many games as the visitors scored a late consolation, but it was Pooler that claimed a 41-30 win.

Pontypridd will be looking to get back on the winning trail when they travel to Newport in their next Premiership match on Wednesday 1st November.

FULL TIME – Pontypool 41-30 Pontypridd (21/10/2023)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Josh Phillips. 14. Liam Lloyd (Louis Rochefort-Shugar). 13. McCauley Rowley (Kyan Lewis). 12. Ryan Wilkins. 11. Dale Stuckey. 10. Ben Burnell. 9. Joel Raikes (Harvey Nash).

1. Ben Stephens (Kian Mattravers). 2. Curtis Greenslade (Rob Jones). 3. Tom Harper (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Mitch Barnard (Chris Dicomidis). 5. Macauley Cook. 6. Kristian Parker. 7. Cai James. 8. Joe Miles (Garyn Davies).

Subs: 16. Rob Jones. 17. Kian Mattravers. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Chris Dicomidis. 20. Garyn Davies. 21. Harvey Nash. 22. Kyan Lewis. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar.

Tries: McCauley Rowley, Joe Miles, Rob Jones

Conversions: Josh Phillips x 3

Penalties: Josh Phillips x 3

PONTYPOOL –

15. Matt Bancroft. 14. Ewan Rosser. 13. Joel Mahoney. 12. Amosa Nove. 11. Walker Price. 10. Matthew Jarvis. 9. Morgan Lloyd.

1. Sam Cochrane. 2. Sam Scarfe. 3. Kelvyn Williams. 4. Lance Randall. 5. Ashley Sweet. 6. Mike Herbert. 7. Callum Davies. 8. Scott Matthews (c).

Subs: 16. Peter Lloyd. 17. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths. 18. Ollie Drake. 19. Lewis Johnson. 20. Alex Grey. 21. Matthew Flanagan. 22. Josh Malson. 23. Ben Moa.

Tries: Scott Matthews, Morgan Lloyd, Walker Price, Ollie Drake, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths

Conversions: Matthew Jarvis x 5

Penalties: Matthew Jarvis x 2

Referee: Simon Mills

Assistant referees: 1 – Gavin Roberts, 2 – Anthony Price

WRU Man of the Match: Ryan Wilkins