Both sides were in a cautious mood as the game got underway, sussing each other out with a series of kicks for position. It was a mid range penalty ably converted by full back Jason Pocock which gave Ponty an early lead, with four minutes gone. An opportunist kick and chase, followed by some aggressive mauling, gave Aberavon the impetus to forge upfield. Having gained a good attacking position, the home eight scrummaged powerfully to shunt over the line, a try claimed by no 8 Richard Morris and converted by outside half Jamie Davies.

Pontypridd were guilty of committing errors, placing themselves under pressure but holding out gallantly in defence. The visitors then advanced cautiously, but full back Pocock skewing wide a kickable penalty opportunity. The first fifteen minutes of the game had produced a competitive encounter, but with very little flair in evidence. A neat break by scrum half Gareth Jones, followed by a surging run from lock Damian Welch gave Ponty some much needed momentum in attack, but once more petering out into nothing. Aberavon themselves went on the offensive, but stemmed by a tackle and counter attack instigated by Ponty wing Chris Clayton, who however lacked the confidence to cut through for a score.

The game was pretty much at deadlock, littered with handling errors, and with the home team failing with a penalty attempt at goal. Ponty harassed their opponents to sneak possession, with centre Paul Matthews leading their efforts, but the game still short of any attacking cut and thrust. Mistakes and injuries were blighting the flow of play, a dynamic break from Ponty centre Dafydd Lockyer bucking the trend, but the first half drawing to a close with the home team maintaining a narrow lead of 7pts to 3.

With Gavin Dacey coming on for Paul Matthews at the restart, Ponty strung together some good phases of attack, full back Jason Pocock blocked off the ball, resulting in a yellow card issued to home winger Aled Davies. Ponty were mauling their way ever closer to the home line, but then conceding a crucial turnover to loose possession. Undaunted, Ponty continued to press forward, a neat break by centre Gavin Dacey releasing winger Gareth John on a run to cross for a try in the corner. The visitors were failing to set up an effective line out platform, conceding ground, but dogged in their defensive duties. Trying hard to up the tempo of the game, Ponty were rewarded with a penalty opportunity which full back Pocock successfully converted, with fifty-two minutes gone.

Running from a deep position, Ponty set up a kick and chase attack instigated by Chris Clayton, which nearly produced a score. With Richard Emms coming on for Lee Pearce, Ponty were camped out in the home twenty-two, just failing to achieve a breakthrough. The game had by now notched up a gear or two, a full blooded encounter between two committed sides. As Nick Eaves came off the bench in place of Stuart Williams, Ponty soaked up a period of home pressure, before once more thrusting into opposition territory, and harvesting points from a sweetly struck long range penalty by Jason Pocock. A further substitution saw Ryan Harries coming on for the industrious Gareth Jones, as Ponty centres Dacey and Lockyer effectively breached the gain line, keeping their team in the ascendancy.

Following a brief period of Aberavon pressure, Ponty worked another fine attack up the flank, culminating in a try for winger Chris Clayton and converted by Pocock. With Ian Poley now on for Sam Hobbs, the visitors continued to dominate, a sweet break by centre Dacey very nearly producing another score. Ponty were now showing up well in the scrums, keeping play up on the home line, the ball shipped out wide for Dacey to slice through for a deserved try, again converted by Pocock.

A double substitution late on saw Neil Burnett coming on for Dylan Jones and Darren Jones for Chris Dicomidis as Ponty continued to surge forwards. A neat cross kick from Burnett posed a threat in the home twenty-two, scrum half Ryan Harries burrowing over for a close range try. With a number of Ponty players down injured, Aberavon launched a stoppage time offensive to claim a consolation try scored by flanker James Davies, but doing little to detract from a fine Pontypridd victory by 12pts to 33.

Pontypridd

15.Jason Pocock  14.Chris Clayton  13.Paul Matthews (Gavin Dacey)  12.Dafydd Lockyer  11.Gareth John  10.Dylan Jones (Neil Burnett) 9.Gareth Jones (Ryan Harries)

1.Stuart Williams (Nick Eaves) 2.Lee Pearce (Richard Emms) 3.Sam Hobbs (Ian Poley) 4.Damian Welch  5.Grant Harrington  6.Chris Dicomidis (Darren Jones) 7.Adam Powell  8.Nathan Strong - cpt

Cardiff 24 Bridgend 21

The Western Mail

THREE yellow cards, countless mini-brawls and four superb individual tries.

Just another exciting game in the ever-improving Principality Welsh Premiership.

When Steve Lewis described the league as being a future rival to South Africa's Currie Cup and New Zealand's NPC competitions, many people scoffed at his blunt, pre-season prediction.

But, on the evidence of Saturday's latest pulsating encounter at the Arms Park, the "jewel in Welsh rugby's crown," may just be proving the WRU boss was actually right.

The league is getting stronger and more and more players are coming through the system to play regional and even international rugby.

So much so that, according to Cardiff coach Justin Burnell, the man who led the Wales U19s to Grand Slam glory, believes the semi-pro league is now going from strength to strength.

"There are a lot of good teams in this league now that can compete week-in, week-out," he said.

"People forget how young these players are and how they can only get better.

"I think you are seeing the standard rising with every game."

Burnell's assessment comes after seeing his Cardiff side win a real battle with a physical Bridgend outfit.

But it was the visitors who took the initiative as centre Chris Tossel raced over after just two minutes for a converted score to set the tone for a gripping encounter.

The try lit the blue touch-paper as a succession of mini-brawls marred long periods of the game.

The officials had their work cut out and they finally ran out of patience when a fierce six-man scrap saw referee Tim Hayes send Cardiff's Rhys Gill and Bridgend's Andrew Joy into the cooler midway through the first half.

But the yellow cards only seemed to help Cardiff as Thomas James and Elgan Jones crossed in quick succession to open up a sizeable lead.

James is a highly-rated threequarter who showed great pace and strength to cross, while winger Jones demonstrated quick feet to beat Nathan Trowbridge for the all-important second try.

Along with the accurate boot of fly-half Craig Evans, the Blue and Blacks went into the break with an 18-10 advantage.

And they never looked like letting their lead slip in the second period.

Evans continued where he left off in the victory over Llanelli with his accurate boot punishing any Bridgend misdemeanours to take his tally to 14 points.

And, although Ravens replacement flanker Adam Whitney showed some real pace down the near touchline to make it a tense finish, Gareth Williams' late yellow card compounded a bad day at the office for Bridgend.

"We followed the ball too much in the first-half and got caught out," said coach Chris Stephens after seeing his side slide to a second successive defeat on their travels.

"We have to learn from this."