Ponty 33 Aberavon 13 - Cup Review

By Zippy
April 19 2005

Review of the action in the first of the Konica-Minolta Cup Semi Finals. The Brewery Field was host to a great Ponty display in front of a good crowd for details read on.

Pontypridd 33 Aberavon 13

By www.PontypriddRFC.co.uk - Rygbi Pontypridd - Official Website / Y Wefan Swyddogol - The Valleys' Premier Team.

Errors were made early on by both sides in a nervous start to what looked set to be a typically tense cup tie. A big hit tackle by flanker Rhys Shellard gave Ponty the encouragement to up the tempo and advance upfield, but soon pegged back by Aberavon’s long distance clearance kicks. The Wizards had the first opportunity to open the scoring, but outside half Jamie Davies off target with a kickable penalty attempt.

Aberavon were driving hard into the Ponty midfield, putting the Valleys team under considerable pressure, the first ten minutes of the game being high on tension but remaining scoreless. Aberavon remained on the front foot, launching an effective driving maul followed up by a line kick to the Ponty twenty-two. Shunting on from an attacking line out, Aberavon put the Ponty defence under huge pressure, but the Valley Commandos holding firm, before breaking away with a kick and chase counter offensive. Pontypridd now attempted to put some width to their game, but their creative endeavours blighted by knock-on’s and turnovers in contact. As Aberavon once more drove upfield, it was their outside half Jamie Davies who finally broke the deadlock with a successfully converted penalty with twenty-three minutes gone.

Ponty were now on the back foot, committing handling errors and conceding ground to Aberavon’s wind assisted line kicks. An injury to winger Darren Berry following a heavy tackle saw him replaced by Jason Pocock, with Aberavon camped in the Ponty twenty-two. Having soaked up a good deal of pressure, Ponty edged upfield, enabling outside half Dai Flanagan to stroke over a penalty to level the scores. It was Aberavon who were now on the retreat, conceding penalties at regular intervals, but with Ponty lacking the killer instinct to score. A penalty awarded for a high tackle was converted by Dai Flanagan to edge Ponty into the lead. The Valleys team were now growing in stature, scrapping for possession in the loose and making advances into opposition territory. Some fine support work by Ponty, playing through numerous phases, culminated with the ball whipped out wide for Jason Pocock to cross in the corner, giving Pontypridd an interval advantage of 11 pts to 3.

Aberavon reverted to their favoured tactic of driving mauls to gain ground, but Ponty responding with a snap counter attack, Rhys Shellard racing towards the opposition line, but pulled down just short. The game remained a full blooded contest with both sets of forwards going at each other hammer and tongs. The physical aspect of the game came to the fore as Aberavon centre Darren Ryan was shown the red card for a stamping incident off the ball, with Dai Flanagan converting the ensuing penalty in Ponty’s favour, with forty-eight minutes gone.

An interception and run down the line by Pocock kept Ponty in forward gear, before Lee Evans came off the bench in place of Wayne O’Connor. Aberavon were now being hounded off the ball by Ponty’s aggressive tactics, a turnover in possession allowing winger Richard Fussell to break away, arcing in behind the posts for a well taken try, converted by Flanagan. Despite seeing a Flanagan penalty attempt falling short, Ponty were in the ascendancy, putting together some fine handling moves and rewarded with a try scored by supporting flanker Shellard.

As Jason Lewis came on in place of Dafydd Lockyer, Aberavon struck back with a sustained period of pressure, using their forward bulk to pound into the Ponty twenty-two. The ball was slung out wide for winger Darren Griffiths to dart over for a try for the Wizards, trimming their deficit to 26 pts to 8, with sixty-three minutes gone. An uncompromising physical battle continued to generate plenty of niggle amongst the forwards, with Aberavon back in contention with series of drives upfield. Another substitution saw Chris Martenko coming on for Grant Harrington, going into the final ten minutes of play. Ponty once more generated some great handling skills, winger Fussell braking clear but his score disallowed for a forward pass. With Paul John coming on for the industrious Gareth Jones, Ponty plied forward in attack, a weaving run from full back Morgan Stoddart setting up Rhys Shellard for a touchdown, the score converted by Flanagan.

A late double front row substitution saw Ben Phillips and Gerald Cox coming on for Duane Goodfield and Ryan Harford, as Ponty sat back in defence against a surge from their opponents. Aberavon kept up their momentum, their no 8 Richard Morris barging over for a close range try. An injury time penalty attempt from Dai Flanagan dipped under the crossbar, but Ponty already having done more than enough to claim a comprehensive victory by 33 pts to 13, and secure their passage to the Welsh Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.

Pontypridd:

15. Morgan Stoddart. 14.Darren Berry (Jason Pocock). 13.Tom Riley. 12.Dafydd Lockyer (Jason Lewis). 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Gareth Jones (Paul John).

1.Stuart Williams. 2.Duane Goodfield (Ben Phillips). 3.Ryan Harford (Gerald Cox). 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt. 5.Grant Harrington (Chris Martenko). 6.Wayne O’Connor (Lee Evans). 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Dan Godfrey.