Back to Winning Ways: Pontypridd 37 - 23 Leeds

By Webmaster
December 8 2002

Pontypridd put last weeks poor performance behind them as they fought against Leeds in the second round of the Parker Pen Cup - For a report of the action read on.

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Pontypridd 37 - 23 Leeds

    Pontypridd put in a much improved performance after last weekends disappointing match against Neath. From the start Ponty looked up for it and within three minutes Sonny Parker had crossed the Leeds line for the first try of the game. Brett Davey added the conversion to put Ponty 7 - 0 up. This was followed by a penalty for Davey and a drop goal from outside half Ceri Sweeney.  Leeds did manage a couple of penaties of their own and after half an hour Ponty were confortably leading by 19 points to 6. 

    In the final few minutes of the first half, a knock on just outisde the 22 from Gareth Wyatt provided Leeds with a scrum and number eight  Isaac Faeanati picked up the ball and ran over the Ponty line unchallenged. However this scrum had looked to have turned through more than 90 degrees and so Ponty should have been awarded the scrum but the try stood and Pontys lead was reduced to 6 points.

    Ponty then went on an attack of their own and the catch and drive from the lineout nearly provided a try before half time however the ball was just held up. But just when Ponty looked to be going in at half time just six points up, Sonny Parker burst through the Leeds defence for a second time to touchdown and give Ponty a confortable 11 point lead at half time.

    At the start of the second half the referee again angered the home fans when he sent prop Gethin Jenkins and a Leeds prop to the sin bin for apparently collapsing the scrum. This looked to have had more of a negative effect on the already strugging Leeds scrum as Ponty continued to dominate in the forwards. Not long after, inspirational centre Sonny Parker again burst through although this time he couldn't make it to the line himself. Instead he took the tackle, Paul John gave a quick pass out to Geraint Lewis who burst through two defenders and gave the try scoring pass to Gareth Wyatt who sprinted over the line to touchdown in the corner. 

    Leeds then hit back with another try of their own through number eight Faeanati however it was Ponty who were to extend their lead thanks to the forwards who drove Richard Parks over the line in the corner to score Ponty's fourth try of the night. This put Ponty 37 - 20 in front however with the last kick of the game Gordon Ross added a penalty for Leeds to leave them trailing by 14 points when the sides meet again next weekend in Headingley.

Final Score: Pontypridd 37 - Leeds 23

Pontypridd team:

Davey, Wyatt, Parker, Bryant, E Lewis, Sweeney, John, G Jenkins, Davies, Bell, Cockbain, Sidoli, Kelly, Parks, G Lewis.

Scorers:

Parker (2 tries), Parks (Try), Wyatt (Try), Davey (1 con, 4 pens), Sweeney (Drop Goal)