Prem Review - Boxing Day
By Zippy
December 28 2006
A review of the action in the Principality Welsh Premiership from Boxing Day. Bridgend won the derby game against Maesteg and Ponty kept on their winning ways against Glamorgan Wanderers. For details read on.
Bridgend 20 Maesteg 15
The Western Mail
A typically passionate Brewery Field derby saw the Ravens stage a second-half comeback to break the hearts of the Llynfi Valley faithful.
Maesteg led 9-0 at half-time with their pack superbly marshalled by Ian Boobyer on top in the scrums and denying the Ravens quick possession.
But coach Chris Stephens, who hails from Maesteg, sorted his side out during the interval and there was only one team in it in the second half.
Boobyer's 47th-minute yellow card for killing the ball turned the game in the Ravens favour as they took a succession of close-range line-outs which ended with a try by Ieuan Dobbs, converted by Gareth David.
Before Boobyer's return, a Maesteg mistake was snapped up by Nicky Griffiths and Dobbs sent Roger Davies clear from 30 metres out for a try which David again converted.
Luke Richards kicked his fourth penalty on the hour to give Maesteg some hope, but David topped the 100 points mark for the season with a penalty and last-ditch drop goal.
Andrew Hutchings was the one Maesteg back who caused the Ravens any problems until a late appearance by young Gareth Owen, while Dobbs and Griffiths stood out for the winners.
| Bridgend | 20 - 15 (0 - 9) |
Maesteg | |
| Tries: Dobbs, Davies |
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| Pens: David |
Pens: Richards. 4, Owen |
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| Drops: David |
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| Cons: David 2 |
Pontypridd 29 Glamorgan Wanderers 6
By www.PontypriddRFC.co.uk - Rygbi Pontypridd - Official Website / Y Wefan Swyddogol - The Valleys' Premier Team.
No one knows who coined the phrase “a game of two halves”, but it very accurately describes our match against Glamorgan Wanderers on Boxing Day. It the first half Pontypridd lit up the December gloom with a sparkling display of running rugby, scoring four beautiful tries in the process. In the second half the turkey and Christmas pudding took its toll, and we only managed three points from an easy penalty.
Glamorgan Wanderers started brightly enough, putting some early pressure on our line and missing a kickable penalty. Their eventual reward was a dropped goal by stand-off Roper. After ten minutes Ponty centre Paul Mathews suffered what looked like a bad shoulder injury, and was replaced by Gavin Dacey, who promptly scored a nice try out on the right at the Pwllgwaun end. The conversion was missed, but Ponty were in front by 5-3.
The Wanderers forwards continued to play well, and Pontypridd were forced to defend their line, particularly against some well executed rolling mauls. However, there was little penetration in the visitor’s backs, and once again their only reward was three points, this time from a Gareth McCarthy penalty.
For the next twenty minutes Pontypridd took total charge of the game. Some good work down the left hand side saw a series of lineouts near the Wanderers line. Grant Harrington took the ball at one of them, looked about, and saw a huge gap in front of him. He accepted the gift gladly, strolling over for a good try. Neil Burnett added the conversion to make it 12-6 to Pontypridd.
There then followed the try of the match. Lawrence Price counter-attacked from his own half, and then cropped up again a couple of times in a movement which saw the ball go through at least a dozen pairs of hands. Forwards and backs combined well, and just when you thought that the opportunity to score had gone, possession was regained and progress towards the Wanderers’ line continued. Eventually Chris Clayton was the man to make the final breakthrough, scoring near the posts. Neil Burnett again converted, and it was 19-6.
The fourth try was another beauty. This time Gavin Dacey was the man to finish off a series of attacks with a classic centre break to waltz in under the posts. Neil again added the two points to make it 26-6 as half-time approached.
The second half was something of a non-event, apart from a red card for captain Nathan Strong for alleged skulduggery at a ruck. Neil Burnett had kicked a penalty from in front of the posts just before Nathan departed, and Pontypridd were forced to play out about twenty-five minutes with fourteen men on the park. Fortunately Wanderers offered little in opposition, and the few good attacks mainly came from the depleted Ponty side. The match eventually fizzled out with the score remaining at 29-6.
Still, this was a good performance from the home side, with a sparkling performance from man-of-the-match Chris Clayton on the wing, and particularly good performances from Lawrence Price, Gavin Dacey and Neil Burnett in the backs. The pack also went well, with Grant Harrington, Richard Emms and Tu Tamarua standing out in what was a good all-round forward effort. Now for Cardiff on Saturday.
| Pontypridd | 29 - 6 (26 - 6) |
Glamorgan Wanderers | |
| Tries: Dacey 2, Harrington, Clayton |
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| Pens: Burnett |
Pens: McCarthy. |
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| Drops: Roper |
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| Cons: Burnett 3 |