By Zippy
October 11 2004

A good night for Bridgend and Pontypridd as both sides registered victories, Bridgend won well at home to Aberavon and Ponty came away with the spoils at Cross Keys. For details read on

Bridgend 27 - 10 Aberavon

The Western Mail

RAMPANT Ravens kept their Premier home record this season with three tries to one.

And, outside-half Gareth David rubbed it in with three penalties in four attempts.

But Wizards 14-7 down at half-time after the lead changed hands twice in the first quarter can take heart.

Paul Smithson who took over from Neil Dixon after 26 minutes and centres Richard Mustoe and Richard Dyke set a great standard in Bridgend's back division.

Add to that in tactical kicking of David and scrum-half James Donovan and Aberavon had their work cut out.

Behind them half-backs Liam Gadd and Adrian Williams tried their best to get their backs moving only for Bridgend covering to prove effective.

Wizards flanker Ian Moore, who formed a strong back-row with Nathan Bonner-Evans and Richard Morris, was yellow-carded just before the interval.

Bridgend wing Ryan Howells was also sin-binned - eight minutes after scoring their second try but Bridgend's 14 men held firm.

With the empty hospitality suites standing empty like a memorial to the deceased Warriors, a crowd of only 1,000 saw Dyke score the third home try in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time.

Bridgend		(14)27-10(7)		Aberavon	FT
Tries: Dyke Howells Hitchings				Tries: Hawkins
				Cons: Gadd
Pens: Smithson David 3				Pens: Gadd

Cross Keys 14 Pontypridd 19

The Western Mail

A 65-METRE interception try with five minutes left by Pontypridd wing Chris Clayton left Cross Keys stunned at Pandy Park.

Keys failed to make territorial pressure count and were cruelly punished when Clayton snaffled a loose pass by opposite number Nathan Thomas to race home.

The home sidewere allowed to build a 14-0 lead inside the first quarter of an hour.

The breakthrough arrived courtesy of a penalty try after Pocock was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on as Keys threatened to score.

Gethin Worgan converted that one but the Gwent side didn't need the whistle for their second touchdown.

Former Ebbw Vale scrum-half Gareth Betts claimed it, sniping in from close range after the pack had worn down the Ponty defence with a sustained charge.

But there was to be no running away with it for Keys and Ponty whittled away their advantage to five points by half-time thanks to the accuracy of Pocock, who capitalised on some needless indiscipline by the home side.

Ponty prop Gerald Cox was sin-binned in the 53rd minute for what appeared to be some kind of off-the-ball incident, and at that stage the visitors were defending desperately.

They were not out of their own half before the hour mark and managed not to concede while down to 14 men.

With 11 minutes left the deficit was cut to two points when Pocock slotted his fourth penalty after Keys flanker Ben Watkins had become the second player to be sent to the cooler.

Cross Keys		(14)14-19(9)		Pontypridd	FT
Tries: Betts				Tries: Clayton
Cons: Worgan				Cons: Pocock
				Pens: Pocock 4

 

The Table

Welsh Premiership September 30, 2004
		P	W	D	L	PTS
1	Newport	6	6	0	0	18
2	Carmarthen	6	5	0	1	15
3	Neath	4	4	0	0	12
4	Swansea	6	4	0	2	12
5	Llanelli	6	4	0	2	12
6	Bridgend	5	3	0	2	9
7	Cross Keys	4	3	0	1	9
8	Pontypridd	5	3	0	2	9
9	Newbridge	5	2	0	3	6
10	Cardiff	5	2	0	3	6
11	Aberavon	4	2	0	2	6
12	Bedwas	6	1	0	5	3
13	Llanharan	5	1	0	4	3
14	Pontypool	4	1	0	3	3
15	Ebbw Vale	4	1	0	3	3
16	Llandovery	6	1	0	5	3
17	Caerphilly	4	0	0	4	0

Bridgend and Ponty sit in 6th and 8th respectively, both will be looking to improve on that and the 2 sides meet this Saturday.