Pontypridd 12 - 10 Cardiff

By Webmaster
December 22 2002

The game was dictated by the poor conditions and as a result neither team were able to show creativeness in the backs. Instead it was a battle of the forwards which was definately won by Ponty. For a match review read on.

Pontypridd 12 - 10 Cardiff

    In terrible conditions at Sardis Road, Pontypridd managed to get their Welsh Premiership campaign off to a winning start thanks to the boot of Neil Jenkins and excellent work by the forwards. All evening the Pontypridd pack troubled the Cardiff forwards and as early as the tenth minute saw Rob Appleyard go in the sin bin for punching a Ponty player and then saying something to the referee. 

    By the time this had happened Ponty were already 3 - 0 up and that could have been more had Brett Davey managed to get over in the corner. Two further penalties for Jenkins put Ponty in control with a 9 - 0 lead but to everyone's amazement Cardiff came back into the game with one of their only ventures into the Ponty half. A strong forward drive from Ponty turned into a disaster when John Tait stole the ball before running upfield and passing to Rhys Williams who dived over near the posts. Iestyn Harris converted and Ponty were holding on to a slender 2 point lead approaching half time. 

    Jenkins could have increased that lead had he put what was the last kick of the half, over the posts. Instead it went just wide and Ponty had a slight advantage at the break. In changed strips, the teams re-entered for the second half and it was Jenkins who had earlier kicked three penalties who nearly got Ponty's first try. Good offloading from Gareth Wyatt nearly put Jenkins over in the corner but again, the Cardiff defence stood strong. A fourth penalty from Jenkins gave Ponty a five point lead and the result looked more certain when referee Nigel Owens finally lost patience with Peter Rodgers and sent him to the sin bin. 

    However, Cardiff ventured into Ponty territory and nearly got a try had it not been for some excellent defence on the Ponty line. But Ponty managed to weather the mini storm and played out the last few minutes in the Cardiff half giving them a winning start in the Welsh Premiership.

Pontypridd Scorers: N Jenkins (4 pens)

Cardiff Scorers: R Williams (Try), I Harris (Con), I Harris (Pen)

Pontypridd team: B Davey, G Wyatt, S Parker, J Bryant, E Lewis, N Jenkins, P John; G Jenkins, M Davies (capt), D Bell, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, W O'Connor, R Parks, M Owen.
Reps: G Baber, C Sweeney, J Lewis, M Rees, S Cronk, D McIntosh, G Lewis.

Cardiff Team: R Williams; A Sullivan, J Robinson, M Allen, C Morgan; I Harris, R Smith; P Rogers, L Collins, K Fourie, H Senekal, J Tait, R Appleyard, D Baugh, M Williams (capt).
Reps: D Young, L Tate, E Lewis, N Robinson, D Dewdney, T Payne, D van Vuuren.