Llanelli 44 Ponty 8 - Match Review
By Zippy
November 19 2004
Match Review of the Ponty vs Llanelli game from Wednesday night. Ponty endured the same fate as Bridgend and went down heavily to a much improved Llanelli side, several of whom should be in the regional side.
Llan
Early territorial advantage in Llanelli’s favour was rewarded with a mid distance penalty kicked by outside half Ceiron Thomas, with barely two minutes gone on the clock. Ponty responded with a robust foray into the home half, full back Jason Pocock on hand to slot over a penalty from thirty-five metres out. The first fluent passage of play of what had so far been a pretty low key affair came from Llanelli, good movement along the back line allowing winger Daniel Gravell to slice through for a try, converted by Ceiron Thomas.
A counter attack launched by winger Richard Fussell gave Ponty some forward momentum, but the long range boot of home full back Lee Byrne soon directing play back into the visitors’ half. With their line outs failing to function, Ponty were now on the back foot, Llanelli triggering another attack down the flank, working winger Darren Daniel clear for a try out wide. With Gerald Cox on for Stuart Williams, Ponty continued to soak up a good deal of home pressure, and looking fragile in their defensive capabilities. Another penalty kicked by Ceiron Thomas hoisted Llanelli into a 18pts to 3 lead with eighteen minutes gone.
Ponty so far looked bereft of any attacking guile, kicking possession away to their opponents and lacking any pattern to their game. As tempers simmered, Llanelli flanker Ioan Cunningham was shown a yellow card, and Ponty capitalising by making advances into the home twenty-two. A neat chip ahead from centre Lloyd Warner invited Jason Pocock to chase and drop on the ball for a try, awarded following consultation between the referee and linesman. Ponty once more made ground into the home half, albeit during a scrappy period of play, with tempers boiling over into a free for all punch up amongst the forwards. A missed penalty attempt by Pocock drew the first period to a disappointing end, Ponty going in trailing by 18pts to 8.
Ponty made cautious advances into the home twenty-two as play resumed, but still lacking the basic capability to breach the gain line. An ill tempered affair continued to erupt into the odd fracas, with Ponty scrum half Carl Thomas sin binned for an over vigorous tackle. A series of short forward drives from ruck possession took Ponty upfield, but any ensuing attempts to spread the ball wide petering out with no impact made. A quickly taken free kick at last sent Ponty off on an attack at pace, only for Llanelli to intercept and break away on a counter offensive, their outside half Ceiron Thomas just hauled into touch by a try saving tackle from Morgan Stoddart. Stoddart then departed, replaced by Dafydd Lockyear, as Ponty sat back in defence, soaking up a concerted period of Llanelli pressure.
Whipping the ball out wide with some effective midfield miss passes, the home team put full back Lee Byrne into space to claim a try, the conversion added from a wide angle by Ceiron Thomas. A double substitution now saw Craig Hughes on for Dale McIntosh and Duane Goodfield for Ben Phillips, just into the final quarter of the match.With no 8 Gavin Quinnell, and lock Chris Wyatt ably leading the charge, Llanelli continued to dominate in attack, winger Daniel Gravell just squeezing in for a try in the corner, hoisting the home team into an unassailable lead of 30pts to 8.
A basic inability to win their own line out ball again put Ponty under pressure, Llanelli breaking away at pace for winger Darren Daniel to claim a try, converted by Thomas. The free running enterprise of the Llanelli backs was causing Ponty huge problems, defending desperately against a tide of attack. With Rhys Shellard on in place of Lee Evans, Ponty were enduring a torrid period camped deep in their own half. A surge upfield by Llanelli culminated with lock Bryn Griffiths barging over for a try, once more converted by Ceiron Thomas.
A woeful night for Ponty was compounded as full back Jason Pocock was stretchered off following a lengthy injury, replaced by Tom Riley, with Gareth Jones also on in place of Carl Thomas. Llanelli continued to hold all the aces going into stoppage time, taking scrum ball against the head and ploughing forward in attack. The blowing of the final whistle was a humane act for Ponty, shell shocked following a comprehensive defeat by 44pts to 8.
Pontypridd:
15.Jason Pocock (Tom Riley). 14.Chris Clayton. 13.Lloyd Warner. 12.Morgan Stoddart (Dafydd Lockyear). 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Carl Thomas (Gareth Jones).
1.Stuart Williams (Gerald Cox). 2.Ben Phillips (Duane Goodfield). 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Dale McIntosh. cpt. (Craig Hughes). 5.Grant Harrington. 6.Lee Evans (Rhys Shellard). 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Dan Godfrey.
| Llanelli |  |
(18)44-8(8) | |
Pontypridd | FT |
| Tries: Griffiths Daniels 2 Gravell 2 |
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Tries: Pocock |
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| Cons: Thomas 4 |
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| Pens: Thomas 2 |
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Pens: Pocock |
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