Cup Review 29th Jan

A charged down clearance kick gave Whitland the impetus to attack, laying siege to the visitors’ line and enabling prop Gareth Williams to burrow over for a try, converted by Eifion Roberts, with just four minutes gone. Pontypridd applied some forward pressure to forge their way upfield, releasing their three-quarter line on an enterprising foray into the home twenty-two. The Valleys team were looking to up the pace of the game, but failing to finish off their running ploys due to the odd handling error in open play.

A very competitive encounter at times threatened to boil over with off the ball engagements between both sets of forwards. Despite just edging the battle for possession, and still eager to move the ball wide, Ponty were struggling to make any real impact on the gain line, and unable to manufacture any scoring chances. Making a rare incursion into the visitors’ twenty-two, Whitland set up an opportunity for full back Gavin Morris to pop over a snap drop goal, hoisting the Pembrokeshire side into a ten point lead.

All of Ponty’s efforts to attack continued to be thwarted by the odd knock on or forward pass, frustration creeping into their game as hooker Ben Phillips attempted an unlikely drop goal which flew wide of the mark. Spurning penalty opportunities at goal, Ponty set up a drive from a line out to press towards the home line, only to loose the ball in contact. Having failed to turn pressure into points, Ponty then yielded ground to a long distance kick and chase, the Whitland pack taking control with their hard driving follow up play.

A late counter attack from Pontypridd could not provide a breakthrough, the interval coming with Whitland still ten points to the good in an uncompromising cup battle.

A spate of handling errors and turnovers continued to blight Ponty’s game as the second half resumed, foiling all their efforts in attack. A long distance driving maul from a line out take at last took Ponty deep into the home twenty-two, but the good work undone by yet another needless knock on. The Valleys’ team continued to dominate the game territorially, but their play by now a catalogue of errors and wasted possession.

A charge from no 8 Dan Godfrey once more set Ponty on a course into the home twenty-two, at last beginning to look more cohesive in their support play. A concerted phase of pressure from Ponty culminated in a sweet passing move along the back line, allowing winger Richard Fussell to squeeze in for a try in the corner. Turning over possession, Ponty immediately set off on a counter offensive from deep, finished off with a run to the line by Fussell, his score converted by full back Jason Pocock, with fifty-nine minutes gone.

Whitland in turn responded with some aggressive charges upfield, but held up by a highly combative Ponty defence. The game remained a close fought encounter going into its final ten minutes, both teams putting their bodies on the line in a rough and tumble scrap for possession. Whitland always looked threatening with their ability to carry the ball up to their opponents, typified by a forceful midfield break by centre Barry John, but Ponty just holding their composure in defence.

A late substitution saw Geraint Liddon coming on for Gerald Cox as Ponty continued to put in the tackles required to keep the home team at bay. Into injury time, Whitland were finishing the game strongly, but held up in their tracks by a hugely committed Ponty defence. A tense, physical cup tie came to an end with Pontypridd just holding out for a hard fought away victory by 10 pts to 12.

Pontypridd:

15.Jason Pocock. 14.Darren Berry. 13.Jason Lewis. 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Richard Langmead. 9.Gareth Jones.

1.Gerald Cox (Geraint Liddon). 2.Ben Phillips. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt. 5.Chris Martenko. 6.Lee Evans. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Dan Godfrey.