We took an early 3-0 lead thanks to a Gareth David penalty which we kept until the 39th minute. Nicky Griffiths went on a great run just before half time and we seemed certain to score but the ball was dropped and a kick and chase up field resulted in Ponty wing Richard Fussell scoring a try against the run of play.

That gave Ponty a 7-3 lead.

RIght at the start of the 2nd half a loose pass was intercepted by Ryan Howells who sprinted 80 metres for a well deserved try and Gareth David converted to make ot 7-10 to the Ravens.

Bridgend had dominated the scrums but were turned over near their own line and fly-half Dai Flanaghan went over in the corner to give Pontypridd back the lead.

The score stayed that way until injury time, both sides had chances but silly mistakes and a whistle happy Nigel Williams made it a stop start game. Gareth David missed an easy penalty in the 35th minute but a minute into injury time he was given another chance and he did not let us down this time.

For Bridgend number 8 Gareth Williams was excellent while Cory Harris made the tackle of the century to stop the Pontypridd scrum half from claiming what seemed a certain try. Mike Powell was brilliant in the 2nd row alongside Nathan Strong and the whole pack dominated the Ponty 8.

Nicky Griffiths made his comeback from injury and had a solid game while wings Ryan Howells and Dan Hitchins always looked threatening.

It was a game we should have sewn up much earlier and we will have to take those chances v Cardiff and Neath over the next couple of weeks but any win at Sardis Road is a good one and I am bloody delighted.

Pontypridd		(7)12-13(3)		Bridgend	FT
Tries: Flanagan Fussel				Tries: Howells
				Cons: David
Pens: Pocock				Pens: David 2

Welsh Premiership October 03, 2004
		P	W	D	L	PTS
1	Newport	6	6	0	0	18
2	Neath	5	5	0	0	15
3	Carmarthen	7	5	0	2	15
4	Llanelli	7	5	0	2	15
5	Swansea	7	4	0	3	12
6	Bridgend	6	4	0	2	12
7	Pontypridd	7	4	0	3	12
8	Cross Keys	5	3	0	2	9
9	Aberavon	5	3	0	2	9
10	Newbridge	6	2	0	4	6
11	Bedwas	7	2	0	5	6
12	Llanharan	7	2	0	5	6
13	Cardiff	5	2	0	3	6
14	Pontypool	6	2	0	4	6
15	Ebbw Vale	6	2	0	4	6
16	Llandovery	6	1	0	5	3
17	Caerphilly	6	0	0	6	0

Match Report (www.Pontypriddrfc.com)

Having mopped up a period of Bridgend pressure, Ponty booted their way upfield, both teams laying claim to territory but rarely threatening to score. Guilty of putting hands to the ball in a ruck, Ponty conceded a penalty which visitors’ outside half Gareth David duly converted to open the scoring.

Showing up well in the set pieces, Bridgend enjoyed a period of relative dominance, but well marshalled by the home tacklers. Applying the same tenacity in attack as they had in defence, Ponty surged upfield, a likely score thwarted by a crucial tackle from Bridgend flanker Cory Harris. The game stepped up a gear as the Ravens struck back on the offensive, but Gareth David pulling wide a penalty attempt. Ponty were now getting plenty of tackle practice, facing up to a concerted foray from the visitors, without yielding an inch in contact. A long range penalty attempt from Jason Pocock was wide of the mark, as Ponty tried hard to fight their way back into contention.

A Bridgend attack was cut short by a Richard Fussell tackle, the winger showing excellent awareness to hack on the loose ball and follow up for a fine opportunist try, the score converted by Pocock. The intense physical nature of the contest now boiled over into a free for all punch up amongst the forwards, the inevitable yellow cards dished out to Ponty flanker Rhys Shellard and Bridgend prop Gareth Alexander. A late surge by the visitors saw the first half through to its conclusion, Ponty still in the lead by 7pts to 3.

The home team tried to carry the ball up to their opponents in the opening exchanges of the second period, but too often spilling the ball and yielding turn over ball in the tackle. Ponty continued to apply pressure, battering their way into the visitors’ twenty-two, no 8 Dan Godfrey forced off injured, replaced by Rhys Long. As Ponty attempted to spread the ball wide, an interception saw Ravens winger Ryan Howells sprint from deep within his own half for a breakaway try, the score converted by outside half David.

As Paul John came on in place of Carl Thomas, Ponty were grafting hard to break out of their own half, making yardage through the positional penalty kicking of outside half Dai Flanagan. Maintaining a foot hold in the visitors’ twenty-two, Ponty put together some useful phases of play, poaching loose possession on the ground for Dai Flanagan to snipe in for a try in the corner. Ponty were now laying claim to a good share of possession, and drilling positional kicks upfield to maintain a territorial advantage. Geraint Liddon came on in place of Ryan Harford, as Ponty were forced on to the back foot, stemming a tide of Bridgend attack.

The game was still highly competitive, and delicately balanced, going into its last ten minutes, as Bridgend outside half Gareth David pulled wide a penalty attempt. Ponty were vigorous in their efforts to scramble possession in the loose, doing just enough to defend their slender lead, during a close fought period of play. Ryan Harford returned to the fray as prop replacement for Gerald Cox, the clock counting down to a tense finale to the game. Errors were being made by both sides, adding to the tension if not to the quality of the contest. An injury time penalty from Gareth David sailed between the posts, giving Bridgend a crucial one point advantage, as Greg Evans came on for Richard Fussell. Ponty were now desperately chasing the game, but all to no avail, going down to a highly frustrating defeat by 12pts to 13.