Prem Review - 24th Sep

By Zippy
September 25 2005

Review of the weekends action in the Welsh Premiership. Both Bridgend and Pontypridd kept up their 100% records for match reports read on.

Bridgend 49-32 Bedwas

Wales on Sunday

HELPED by a Chris Tossell hat-trick of tries, Bridgend Ravens maintained their unbeaten record in the Principality Premiership in a free-flowing game at the Brewery Field.

The Ravens were never behind and a burst of three tries in four minutes in the first half gave them the cushion they needed to keep a lively Bedwas side playing catch-up rugby.

The scrums were even, the Ravens had the better line-out but there was nothing between the teams in the battle for the loose ball.

The real difference was behind the scrum where the Ravens were faster and more incisive while Bedwas were often guilty of taking the wrong option or spurning overlaps with the quick ball supplied by their pack.

Bedwas outside-half Andrew James made it 1,006 league points in his career when he slotted over a penalty to match an earlier effort by David.

Then came that three-try burst by Tossell, lock and captain Mike Powell and winger Richard Radford and although Bedwas snapped one up by flanker Phil Wheeler, prop Tom Hearne finished off a sweeping move with the Ravens' fourth try and they led 32-13 at the break.

Tossell's second try put them out of sight even though Rhodri Edwards and skipper Deri Mattravers capitalised on home errors for Bedwas tries which narrowed the gap to 15 points.

But the Ravens weren't to be denied and Tossell brought up his hat-trick to finally kill off a battling Bedwas side.

Bridgend	49 - 32 (32 - 13)	Bedwas
Tries: C Tossell 3, M Powell, R Radford, T Hearne		Tries: D Wheeler, B Edwards, D Mattravers, G Miles
Pens: G David 3		Pens: A James 2
Cons: G David 5		Cons: A James 3

Pontypridd 25 Aberavon 13

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

Ponty set up camp in the visitors’ twenty-two right from the off, keeping up a spate of pressure which culminated in a charge from a tap penalty, taking flanker Lee Evans over for a try, converted by outside half Dai Flanagan. Aberavon had an opportunity to strike back, but a Jamie Davies penalty rebounding off the post adding to the excitement of the early exchanges. A fine break from deep by full back Warner again set Ponty away on the offensive, the home team piling on the pressure, but knocking the ball on right on the Aberavon line.

Ponty were complementing their pace and flair behind with a good dose of forward muscle, but still only seven points to the good for all their domination during the first quarter. Aberavon now forged a path upfield, making their first meaningful inroads into home territory. A big attacking scrum from the visitors resulted in the awarding of a penalty try, which outside half Jamie Davies converted to level the scores. Ponty were now up against it, conceding their territorial dominance in the face of the visitors’ hard mauling tactics. Another big attacking scrum by the Aberavon pack kept the home team pinned back deep in their twenty-two, enduring a torrid period of pressure.

Poaching the ball in the loose, Ponty at last broke free from the stranglehold, with some strong running from hooker Duane Goodfield. Recycling the ball well, Ponty set up a neat midfield interchange between their two centres, Andy Parkinson giving a scoring pass to Dafydd Lockyer, the conversion added from in front of the posts by Flanagan. Taking a quick tap penalty, the home team kept up their momentum, gaining a field position for Flanagan to stroke over a penalty to extend their lead. Aberavon’s repost was immediate, Jamie Davies hoisting over a penalty of his own, bringing up an interval scoreline of 17pts to 10 in Ponty’s favour.

The visitors started the second half with a surge, going close to scoring in the corner, and sustaining a long period of pressure with their ferocious forward drives. A penalty kicked from in front of the posts was just reward for Aberavon’s endeavours. Ponty now made a double front row substitution, Scott Roberts on for Gerald Cox and Ryan Harford for Ian Poley as they tried to contain their opponents’ driving play. During a frenetic passage of play an Aberavon attack broke down, with Ponty surging upfield on a snap counter offensive led by full back Warner. A huge up and under from Warner was followed by a hack and chase from flanker Rhys Shellard, scrum half Wayne Evans pouncing for an opportunist try, hoisting Ponty into a lead of 22pts to 13.

The game was keenly contested , often a frantic scramble for possession, but both sides showing a good awareness in attack. With Adam Powell coming off the bench for Dale McIntosh, Ponty worked hard to close down their opponents, and were rewarded with a successful penalty kick from outside half Flanagan. The Wizards contribute fully to the excitement of the afternoon, launching a fluent back line move, but well shepherded by the home defence.

A spate of late substitutions by Ponty saw Grant Harrington coming on for the injured Lee Evans, Paul Matthews for Andy Parkinson, Gareth Jones for Wayne Evans and Leighton Davies for Duane Goodfield. Ponty were sitting back, soaking up a significant amount of pressure, but doing so with total commitment to their defensive duties. Finishing the game with a late surge, Ponty saw Dai Flanagan pull wide a penalty attempt, but of little consequence, having done more than enough to justify their winning margin of 25 pts to 13.

Pontypridd

15.Lloyd Warner. 14.Darren Berry. 13.Andy Parkinson. (Paul Matthews). 12.Dafydd Lockyer, 11.Chris Clayton. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Wayne Evans. (Gareth Jones).

1.Gerald Cox.  (Scott Roberts).2.Duane Goodfield.(Leighton Davies). 3,Ian Poley.(Ryan Harford). 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt.(Adam Powell). 5.Chris Dicomidis. 6.Lee Evans.(Grant Harrington). 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Nathan Strong.

Pontypridd	25 - 13	Aberavon
Tries: L Evans, D Lockyear, W Evans		Tries: P Bamsey
Pens: D Flanagan 2		Pens: J Davies
Cons: D Flanagan 2		Cons: J Davies 2

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	PTS
1	Cross Keys	4	4	0	0	121	18	0	12
2	Bridgend	4	4	0	0	133	99	0	12
3	Pontypridd	4	4	0	0	114	58	0	12
4	Newport	4	4	0	0	113	77	0	12
5	Neath	4	3	0	1	101	62	0	9
6	Aberavon	4	3	0	1	137	87	0	9
7	Ebbw Vale	4	2	0	2	92	72	0	6
8	Llanelli	4	2	0	2	56	88	0	6
9	Carmarthen	4	2	0	2	61	98	0	6
10	Glamorgan Wanderers	4	1	0	3	90	105	0	3
11	Bedwas	4	1	0	3	91	119	0	3
12	Llandovery	4	1	0	3	79	134	0	3
13	Pontypool	3	1	0	2	52	49	0	3
14	Swansea	4	0	0	4	64	86	0	0
15	Cardiff	4	0	0	4	65	150	0	0
16	Maesteg	3	0	0	3	50	104	0	0