Pontypridd 52 vs St Albans 20

Pontypridd ended their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2024/25 season with a 52-20 win over St. Albans at Sardis Road, marking five wins from their five fixtures.

Despite three scores from ‘The Buns’ through Lana Ogunade and a brace for Nicko Fowler, four first half tries from props Dan Cotterell and Kian Mattravers, openside flanker Dylan John and centre Ty Lewis provided the platform for the hosts before second half scores from wing Jude Williams, number 8 Lloyd Riley, Ed Thomas and Charlie Morgan-Stephens.

The visitors took the lead after an early penalty from outside half Luke Fish after Pontypridd’s Sam Talbot was penalised for holding on.

The response from the hosts was a positive one initially, with loosehead prop Dan Cotterell scoring the first try of the match as he powered over from short range, leaving a simple conversion for fly-half Sam Talbot.

St. Albans crossed for their opening try through second row Lana Ogunade who was on the receiving end of a rolling maul, the conversion from Fish hit the left-hand post but the Buns had an early 8-5 lead after 10 minutes.

Ponty replied with their second try through tighthead prop Kian Mattravers who scored to the right of the posts following a Mitch Barnard pass.

A few minutes later openside flanker Dylan John scored the hosts’ third try in the corner after Ponty passed the ball out wide to wing Jac Argyle who was stopped short of the line. John retrieved the ball to touchdown. Sam Talbot kicked a superb touchline conversion to give the home side a 19-8 lead as the match approached the first quarter.

Try number four followed a few minutes later for the home team after a box kick from the visitors fell to Talbot, the ball went through the hands of the backline for centre Ty Lewis to score.

Despite a couple of neat touches from fullback Oli Shepherd, which included a break down the wing and a kick ahead, there were no more scores in the opening 40 minutes and Pontypridd led 26-8 at the break.

HALF TIME – Pontypridd 26-8 St Albans

Ponty opened the scoring in the second half through winger Jude Williams who broke through the defence to score. Talbot added the extras before the visitors picked up their second try of the match through replacement Nicko Fowler who crossed from short range. The score was 33-15 to Pontypridd as the contest approached the hour mark.

The pick of the tries came midway through the second half through Ponty number 8 Lloyd Riley who picked up from the back of a scrum and went down the blindside and ran in from over 45 meters out.

Replacement Ed Thomas picked up his side’s seventh try, before the away side picked up their third with Fowler grabbing his second of the match.

There was still time for one final try for the hosts, when Charlie Morgan-Stephens scored in the left-hand corner attacking the clubhouse end of the ground. Sam Talbot added his sixth conversion giving Ponty a 52-20 win.

Despite the start of the Welsh Premiership season getting underway next weekend, Ponty have a bye and will return to Sardis Road on the 14^th of September when they welcome Bargoed.

FULL TIME – Pontypridd 52-20 (31/8/2024)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Oli Shepherd. 14. Jac Argyle. 13. Brandon Huntley. 12. Ty Lewis. 11. Jude Williams. 10. Sam Talbot. 9. Morgan Edwards.

Dan Cotterell. 2. Dylan Kelly. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Mitch Barnard (c) 5. Cole Parry. 6. Alex Georgio. 7. Dylan John. 8. Lloyd Riley.

Subs: 16. Iestyn Thomas. 17. Morgan Bosanko. 18. Tom Fry. 19. Scott Bishop. 20. Caradog Lloyd-Kaniewski. 21. Lucus Welch. 22. Jaydan Pugh. 23. Ed Thomas. 24. Sam Hayman. 25. Charlie Morgan-Stephens.

Tries: Dan Cotterell, Kian Mattravers, Dylan John, Ty Lewis, Jude Williams, Lloyd Riley, Ed Thomas, Charlie Morgan-Stephens

Conversions: Sam Talbot x 6

ST ALBANS –

15. Nathan Rees. 14. Luke Jones. 13. Roman Facey. 12. Daniel Millward. 11. Nathan Hayde. 10. Luke Fish. 9. Rhys Lia.

1. Daniel Ferrier. 2. Carl Fish. 3. Joe Davies. 4. Lana Ogunade. 5. Liam Hudson (c). 6. Jacob Bishop. 7. Josh Welsher. 8. Luke Jones.

Subs: 16. Josh Burridge. 17. Liam King. 18. Jamie Boyle. 19. Joe Khan. 20. Nicko Fowler. 21. Callum Donague-Proud. 22. Luke Gibson. 23. Jose Kabila. 24. Jake Donovan. 25. Scott Taylor. 26. Lewis Skrines.

Tries: Lana Ogunade, Nicko Fowler x 2

Conversion: Luke Fish

Penalty: Luke Fish

Referee: James Jones