*MATCH REPORT*PONTYPRIDD 28 – CARDIFF 19
Fri 19thApril 2019, 19:10, Sardis Road
Principality Premiership
Pontypridd bounced back from a disappointing defeat against Carmarthen Quins to earn a bonus point victory over title chasing Cardiff.
On a sunny evening at Sardis Road, the game couldn’t have started any worse for the home side. Great interplay between captain Thompson and Max Llewellyn almost earned the men in red the first try of the game before Pontypridd’s Gareth Smith tackled Will Rees-Hole in an offside position resulting in a penalty try and yellow card for the prop.
The game remained in the balance though as Pontypridd tried their best to play attractive rugby in all areas of the field, but Cardiff’s defence held out as the away side went in search of another five pointer. Having got a foot hold in the match, things got a whole lot tougher for Ponty as James Beale scored the much needed second Cardiff try after a wonderful kick through by the impressive Ed Howley.
Unfortunately for the traveling support they saw more of their players leave the field than they saw tries as Will Rees-Hole, Peter Lloyd and Ben Thomas were all given ten minutes to think about their actions. The biggest culprit of the trio seemed to be Thomas as he also handed Pontypridd a penalty try after slapping down Alun Lawrence’s inside ball to Blacker, denying a clear try scoring opportunity.
The Cardiff team as a whole looked to have left their discipline back in the capital as referee Craig Evans drew the curtains on a half that saw the away side concede an astonishing 16 penalties. Nevertheless, the show went on and Pontypridd played their part with a five-star second half showing. After retaining possession from a scrum in their own 22, Ponty moved the ball wide to the flying Dale Stuckey who sprinted 40 metres down the touch line before cleverly chipping the ball back inside to Dane Blacker who claimed the bouncing ball to score under the posts.
With the home side in the ascendancy, captain Chris Dicomidis and his forwards scented blood. With Cardiff giving yet another penalty away, Ceri Sweeney kicked to the corner and decided to let the dominant Pontypridd forwards have a bash. As the forwards drove towards the Cardiff try-line there was only going to be one outcome as Rob Jones scored to further the home teams’ advantage.
The scoring didn’t stop there with Cardiff’s second-half capitulation nearing its completion as Dale Stuckey intercepted Rees-Hole’s wayward pass to sprint 60 metres and bring up Pontypridd’s much needed bonus-point. Sweeney added the extras once more and with Ian Botham in the crowd at Sardis Road, his sons team began their chase of a 17-point haul with very few overs remaining.
There was some consolation though as Aled Cockwell picked up from the base of the scrum to go through Alun Lawrence and Corey Sheppard and make it 28-19. Luckily for Ponty though that’s how it remained as they began their Easter weekend by putting five league points into their basket as well as potentially making sure Cardiff’s hunt for a golden Premiership egg continues.
Golden Bob Man of the Match: Huw Owen
Pontypridd:
15.Ben Jones (Lewis Allword), 14.Alex Webber, 13.Gary Williams (Corey Sheppard), 12.Gabe Davies, 11.Dale Stuckey, 10.Ceri Sweeney, 9.Dane Blacker
1.Huw Owen (Ian George), 2.Robert Jones (Huw Dowden), 3.Gareth Smith (Morgan Bosanko), 4. Lloyd Evans (Shay Smallman), 5.Chris Dicomidis, 6.Morgan Sieniawski (Rhodri Jones), 7.Rhys Shellard. 8. Alun Lawrence
Unused; Joel Raikes
Tries: Penalty Try (38”), Dane Blacker (45”), Rob Jones (52”), Dale Stuckey (57”)
Cons: Ceri Sweeney (39”, 46”, 53”, 58”)
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