Prem Review - 8th Oct

Swansea set off straight on the attack, pile-driving into the visitors’ twenty-two, and enabling scrum half Rhodri Wells to burrow over for a close range try, converted by Luke Richards with just seventy seconds gone. Setting up a solid line out platform, Ponty fought their way back into contention, and were rewarded for their efforts as outside half Dai Flanagan stroked over a penalty.

The home team continued to apply pressure with their powerful forward drives, forcing Ponty on to the back foot in an encounter which was being played at a frenetic pace. The pattern of the game so far was of line outs, positional kicks, attacks and counter attacks, with Swansea providing the main forward thrust. A scintillating break by home full back Nicky Thomas took them right up to the Ponty line, a certain try saved by a last ditch tackle from prop Scott Roberts. The Valleys team finally broke loose, an attack from deep instigated by full back Jason Pocock, and following some excellent support skills up the flank culminating in a try claimed by dynamic hooker Ben Phillips.

Ponty now looked more attack minded, spurred on by their quick thinking scrum half Evans, but a Swansea repost allowing outside half Richards to pop over a snap drop goal, with twenty-six minutes gone. An excellent take and break from full back Pocock again sent Ponty surging upfield, the visitors now giving the ball plenty of width in attack. Ponty maintained their momentum, a neat midfield miss pass from Flanagan inviting winger Matthew Nuthall to cruise in for a try , the score converted by Flanagan. The Valley Commandos were finishing the first half strongly, centre Paul Matthews going close in the corner, his team worthy of their interval advantage of 10 pts to 15.

The second half resumed in the same frenzied manner as the first, with Swansea applying the early pressure. It was Ponty however who put points on the board courtesy of a penalty kicked by outside half Dai Flanagan. The home pack continued to make good use of their driving maul, making yardage upfield, as Ponty brought on Chris Dicomidis in place of Grant Harrington and Gerald Cox for Stuart Williams. The visitors were now defending grimly on their line, a shunt by the Swansea pack resulting in a try credited to no 8 Steffan Edwards.

A quick tap penalty taken by scrum half Evans at last gave Ponty some impetus, the attack maintained by a Pocock kick and chase, carried on by Evans, and rounded off with a try for centre Paul Matthews, the score converted by Flanagan. As Ben Phillips was replaced by Ryan Harford, Swansea had their flanker Nick Kelly sin-binned, paying the price for his side’s persistent off side tactics. Ponty again surged into the home twenty-two, prop Scott Roberts hacking on and going close to scoring, but injured in the process. A lengthy and worrying delay ensued before Roberts was stretchered off, to be replaced by Stuart Williams.

As play resumed, Ponty kept up their momentum, no 8 Adam Powell driving on from an attacking scrum, the ball whipped out for Jason Pocock to cross for a try, again converted by Flanagan. Despite continued delays for minor injuries, the game kept up its pace into the final ten minutes, with both sides still showing an appetite for attack. Ponty continued to display good support skills, the ball moved along the back line, where no 8 Powell appeared to gallop over for another touchdown, the conversion added by Flanagan. A spate of late substitutions saw Lloyd Warner. Richard Langmead, Sam Wahadan and Tom Dickens all coming on, with Paul Matthews, Dai Flanagan, Wayne Evans and Dale McIntosh departing.

Swansea to their credit remained competitive to the very end and were rewarded as lock Alun Wyn Jones broke free for an opportunist trry, the score converted by replacement Stuart Thomas. An entertaining contest between two attack minded teams came to a close, with Pontypridd having put in a creditable performance, well worthy of their victory by 22 pts to 39.

Pontypridd:

15.Jason Pocock. 14.Daniel Hitchings. 13.Paul Matthews (Lloyd Warner). 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Matthew Nuthall. 10.Dai Flanagan (Richard Langmead). 9.Wayne Evans.(Tom Dickens)

1.Stuart Williams (Gerald Cox). 2.Ben Phillips (Ryan Harford). 3.Scott Roberts (Stuart Williams). 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt.(Sam Wahdan) 5.Grant Harrington (Chris Dicomidis). 6.Nathan Strong. 7.Ben Rose. 8.Adam Powell.

Wales on Sunday

RAVENS kept their 100 per cent record but coach Chris Stephens said last night, "We keep our feet on the ground.

"There are far more games ahead but obviously I'm pleased - Ebbw Vale is a tough place to come!"

"With a little more composure in Bridgend's 22 we may have scored a couple of times," said the former outside half.

Vale No 10 Richard Jenkins scored all their points with four penalties from six attempts.

Ebbw levelled 6-6 at the interval and edged 9-6 ahead early in the second half.

But 11 minutes later Bridgend were awarded a penalty try for a Vale offence at a ruck.

Jenkins' fourth penalty narrowed the deficit to 12-13 for just six minutes before Bridgend centre Ryan Howells snapped up a superb try with flanker Dean Fitzgerald in the sin bin.

Scrum half Nicky Griffiths and full back Gareth David sparked the move, capped by a brilliant offload from centre Chris Tossell to put Howells over.

Bridgend skipper and lock Mike Powell was yellow carded late in the first half - like Fitzgerald - for a technical infringement.

Vale, who had six former under 21 players, including Jenkins, in the squad, were still well in the game until Howells' try.

In the 81st minute - there were seven minutes stoppage time - Vale wing Simon Hunt went over in the corner but was called back for a knock-on.

Jenkins then threatened to break clear but was well tackled by Bridgend's outstanding flanker Adam Witney.

Flanker Craig Cleaver was named Vale's man of the match and few would argue with that.

The home back row had a gruelling time in tight and loose.

David, a former Bridgend under 21 player, met up again with his old Llanharan half back partner Mark Roper, who was Bridgend's No 10.

Roper was replaced midway through the second half by newcomer Roger Davies who went to full back, with David moving out to outside half landing two penalties and both conversions as well as showing a safe pair of hands.