Prem Review - 12th Nov

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

The contest got off to a frenetic start, fast and loose, with periods of attack and counter attack from both sides. The odd handling error committed on a greasy surface only added to the excitement, if not the skill levels of the game. Ponty mounted a concerted phase of pressure, and although not threatening the visitors’ twenty-two, reaped rewards through a Dai Flanagan penalty. The home team now grew in confidence, putting together some fine support play, with scrum half Wayne Evans sniping off the base of a ruck for an opportunist try in the corner.

The penalty count was steadily rising against Pontypool, with Ponty remaining well on top, but failing to cut through for a score. The visitors responded with a foray upfield, allowing outside half Sam Mills to slot over a penalty with twenty-one minutes gone. As Ponty once more went on the offensive, their efforts were foiled by Poolers’ infringing tactics, but notching up three points from a Dai Flanagan penalty. The home team were always aware of their attacking opportunities, trying hard to put men in space but just unable to manufacture a breakthrough. Reverting to sheer muscle power, Ponty launched a driving maul from an attacking line out, with Wayne Evans darting in for another touchdown.

A gallop off the back of a line out by Pooler no 8 Rhodri Dicks set his team on the attack, with Ponty holding out grimly in defence. The game was by now a stop start affair, hitting a low ebb just before the interval. A period of sustained pressure from Pontypool culminated with a forward drive over the line, a try claimed by back rower Phil Sargeant. Sam Mills’ conversion attempt unluckily rebounded off a post, leaving Ponty with a half time advantage of 16 pts to 8.

Ponty made a positive start to the second period, a charge by lock Chris Dicomidis generating momentum in attack. As the ball was moved wide along the line, flanker Rhys Shellard dummied and supplied a scoring pass to Grant Harrington, his try converted by Flanagan. The Valley Commandos were now trying to move up a gear, a late body check on Wayne Evans earning a yellow card for visitors’ back Ross Watts. Against the run of play, Pooler notched points on the board through a long range penalty converted by Sam Mills. A double substitution saw Adam Powell and Tom Riley coming on for Lee Evans and Gavin Dacey respectively, as the game entered a scrappy episode with neither side dominant.

The spark which was needed was provided by winger Darren Berry who set off on a run down the touch line, the move carried on through some excellent Pontypridd support play. A long midfield pass from Flanagan reached Grant Harrington, who provided a neat exchange to Chris Dicomidis, the big lock going over for a try which Flanagan converted from a wide angle. Further substitutions saw Duane Goodfield coming on for Ben Phillips and Chris Martenko for Chris Dicomidis, as Pooler struck back with a series of crabbing mauls from their attacking line outs. Ponty grafted hard in defence, but were eventually out done as the ball was moved wide, the visitors creating an overlap for winger Nathan Daniels to score.

With Stuart Williams on in place of Gerald Cox, and Morgan Stoddart for Jason Pocock, Ponty tried hard to build up a head of steam in attack, but with frustrations boiling over into a free for all punch up on the touchline. From the ensuing penalty, the home pack mauled aggressively upfield, a final drive over the line resulting in a try for hooker Duane Goodfield, with seventy-three minutes on the clock. The competitive nature of the contest was underlined as another mass brawl broke out, the inevitable yellow cards dished out to Adam Powell of Ponty and Nathan Daniels of Pooler. Gerald Cox now returned to the fray in place of Scott Roberts, and with Tom Dickens also on for Wayne Evans, the game going into its final five minutes, as frantic an encounter as it had began. With Stuart Williams prominent on the charge, Ponty were still the dominant force, a well flighted cross kick from Flanagan gathered by Darren Berry, who sidestepped neatly to cross for a try, the score converted by Flanagan. A late surge from Pontypool was held up by a determined home defence, Pontypridd looking good for a well earned home victory, with a six try haul and a 42 pts to 16 advantage.

Swansea 42 Bridgend 17

The Western Mail

BRIDGEND'S early swagger has turned into something of a limp after struggling Swansea became the latest team to put a dent in their Premiership title hopes.

This was the third defeat for Chris Stephens' side in four outings having been unbeaten in their opening seven.

"We have lost our way,'' admitted Stephens.

"The boys are bitterly disappointed, but on reflection our basic skills were poor, so it will be back to basics.

"Take nothing away from Swansea - they deserved their victory - but the final scoreline did not reflect that we were still in the game until well into the second half.''

For Swansea it was a case of win or bust for their under-pressure coaching team, especially after crashing to a 39-3 defeat at home to Neath.

And coach Tony Clement revealed he and his assistant Keith Colclough would have settled for a 3-0 victory.

So a five-try win was riches indeed.

"It's a significant victory. It's a scalp and we deserved it,'' said Clement.

"We were desperate for the win and 3-0 would have done us.

"There was desire, the hunger was evident and I think that was showed by the way we scored straight after half-time and then when Bridgend were in our 22 for 10 minutes we tackled everything.''

Swansea just did not resemble a team who had taken a mere six points from their last nine matches before Saturday's clash.

Form apart, the All Whites were not dealt a good set of cards, having to play their first four games away from home while the St Helen's stand was demolished and replaced.

But they showed on Saturday that in the likes of hooker Richard Hibbard, lock Alun Wyn Jones and scrum-half Richie Rees they have the players who could yet take Swansea into the right half of the table.

However, the form book looked like it was going to be adhered to when Bridgend opened up a 10-3 lead in the opening quarter.

That came about through a try for wing Ryan Howells after veteran outside-half Paul Williams had sent centre Leighton Thomas through a midfield gap.

But after Luke Richards planted a second penalty, Swansea finished the half in purposeful mood by scoring twice in first-half injury time.

First prop Lee May followed up Hibbard's initial incursion to go over.

And then just two minutes later Nicky Thomas finished off a good move involving Rees, Gareth Jones and Wyn Jones.

Swansea's 20-10 interval lead was increased right at the start of the second period after Hibbard's strength took his side close to the line with Rees going over.

That and a third Richards penalty took Swansea all but out of sight at 28-10, but Bridgend finally managed to move out of second gear.

An Adam Whitney try reduced the deficit to 11 points with 24 minutes of normal time remaining.

But any hopes of a Bridgend recovery disappeared when David Watts finished off a length of the field interception try.

And Ben Lewis rubbed salt in the wound by scoring Swansea's fifth deep into injury time.