The contrast between two week-ends could not be greater as the mud and rain of Llanharan was replaced by the glorious spring sunshine of Newbridge. As expected, the home pack used their bulk early on to trundle upfield, but Ponty retaliating with the ball in hand, looking far more incisive in attack. A neat break by winger Chris Clayton led the way, with centre Jason Lewis crossing for a touchdown, but play called back for a Pontypridd penalty which Dai Flanagan cooly drilled between the posts.

An excellent piece of initiative from scrum half Gareth Jones saw him take a quick tap penalty and then weave his way through a mesmerised home defence to claim a try, the conversion from Flanagan hoisting Ponty into a ten point lead. Ponty were now well on top, although struggling to set up a line out platform, but securing enough possession to call the shots. Jones’ distribution from the base of rucks was inviting the Ponty back line to run on to the ball to great effect, with winger Darren Berry hauled into touch just short of scoring. Newbridge gained some yardage with their line kicking and followed up with an attacking move along their three-quarters. Holding firm in defence, Ponty scavenged possession in the loose to resume on the offensive, with Pocock and Berry showing good angles of attack. Persistent pressure for the visitors paid dividends as dynamic lock Chris Martenko waltzed through the Newbridge defence for a well taken try, again converted by Flanagan with twenty-five minutes gone.

Ponty were now on a roll, varying their tactics well, a big forward drive taking them over their opponents’ line for flanker Lee Evans to claim a try in the corner. Newbridge to their credit were attempting to join in the free running game, but with too many spillages of the ball, and allowing Ponty to poach and counter attack. The home pack reverted to their tight driving play to take play up into the Ponty twenty-two, but the Valley Commandos dogging it out in defence. Having soaked up a good deal of pressure, Ponty broke upfield, injecting some pace into the game, and again going close to scoring in the corner, with an interval advantage set in their favour by 22 points without reply.

Ponty continued with their policy of moving the ball wide with the sun on their backs, an interception from forty metres out by winger Chris Clayton resulting in another score. Newbridge responded with a sustained phase of attack, but lacking the incisiveness to seriously trouble the visitors’ defence. A snap counter offensive by Ponty instigated a kick and rush upfield, the ball neatly gathered by centre Dafydd Lockyer to cross for a try, the score converted by Flanagan. Ponty were now bristling with attacking intent, another kick and chase followed up by Dai Flanagan to claim a touchdown, hoisting the visitors into an impressive 39 point lead.

Another surge at pace took Ponty to within inches of scoring, setting up camp on the home line, as Richard Langmead came on for Dai Flanagan with sixty-one minutes gone. Retaining their territorial dominance, Ponty played patiently through many phases, their attack culminating with a charge over the line by lock Chris Martenko, his try converted from in front of the posts by Langmead. Luke Brennan, on permit from Aberdare, now came off the bench in place of Martenko, followed by Lloyd Warner in place of Dafydd Lockyer, as Ponty continued to play fast and loose, always threatening to attack from deep. Further substitutions saw Paul John coming on for Gareth Jones and Ryan Harford for Geraint Liddon, as Ponty were sent scurrying back into their twenty-two, engaged in defensive duties. Newbridge now enjoyed a period of dominance, interrupted by the odd skirmish amongst the forwards during a scrappy period of play. The home team finally achieved a breakthrough as replacement Christian Wills darted over for try, converted by outside half Ross Watts.

It was Newbridge who were finishing the game the stronger, breaking away for centre Gavin Ferguson to claim a try, converted by full back John Williams. Stung into action, Ponty claimed the last word as winger Darren Berry finished off a back line move with a try out wide, crossing the half century of points and rounding off a decent afternoon’s work to claim victory by 14 pts to 51.

Pontypridd:

15.Jason Pocock. 14.Chris Clayton. 13.Jason Lewis. 12.Dafydd Lockyer (Lloyd Warner). 11.Darren Berry. 10.Dai Flanagan (Richard Langmead). 9.Gareth Jones (Paul John).

1.Gerald Cox. 2.Ben Phillips. 3.Graint Liddon (Ryan Harford). 4.Chris Martenko (Luke Brennan). 5.Grant Harrington. 6.Lee Evans. 7.Wayne O’Connor. 8.Dan Godfrey – cpt.

Newbridge		(0)14-51(22)		Pontypridd	FT
Tries: Wills Ferguson				Tries: Evans Clayton Lockyear Jones Berry Flanagan Martenko 2
Cons: Williams 2				Cons: Langmead Flanagan 3
				Pens: Flanagan

The Western Mail

RAVENS' coach Chris Stephens has one big target left this season - to beat Llanelli for third place in the table when the Stradey side are at the Brewery Field tomorrow week on May 10 for the clubs' final league match of the season.

Relegation-bound Newbridge are at Bridgend tomorrow night, but, with all due respect to the Gwent club, Stephens can't help wondering what shape - win or lose - Llanelli will be in three days after Saturday's Konica-Minolta Cup final against Pontypridd.

"We lost to Llanelli in the cup semi-finals and in the league at Stradey - it should be interesting," Stephens added.

Bridgend, level on points with Llanelli and with a match in hand, gained their third win over Pooler this season.

They beat them 23-8 in the cup last 16 at Pontypool in February and 23-16 at Bridgend in the league in November.

This time, Ravens were 22-0 up at the interval, with prop Phil Booth scoring two of their three tries, Pontypool replying with two late tries.

Welcome sunshine was offset by cloudy spells on the pitch, with tempers flashing to smudge Pontypool's last match of the season.

"It was a very good first half for us," said Stephens. "Pontypool then dragged us into their sort of game - light on the fringes.

"There was a lot of off-the-ball stuff, and the second half wasn't much of a spectacle. All stop and start."

Pontypool acting captain, Dean Gibbs, said, "We showed a lot of character to come back with our tries. Our front row came of age."

Gibbs, aged 34, formerly with Cross Keys and Newbridge, announced his retirement after the game following three years with Pooler.

The flanker, with 27 league appearances this season, went off in the first half with recurrence of ankle trouble. Gibbs took over as captain from Cae Trayhern, who recently had a hernia operation, once Pontypool knew they were safe from relegation.

"Several of our players had turned out despite injury or illness to make sure we wouldn't go down," said a Pontypool official.

It was a pity Gibbs did not have a final match to recall for consistent quality.

Four fights broke out. One was in the opening minute, and midway through the second half two simultaneous engagements held centre stage. The ball was irrelevant.

Some of the problems may have stemmed from frustration over mistakes that crept into both sides - it certainly did nothing for the concentration.

The wonder was the patience of referee James Jones, who issued only one yellow card - to Pontypool's outside-half and leading scorer Sam Mills after 62 minutes.

Mills, finishing the season with 247 league points, and flanker Lloyd Burns, ruled out by injury against Bridgend, leave on May 20 for Australia to play for Gold Coast Breakers.

There were six minutes' stoppage time in the first half and five in the second.

On the positive side, the tries were well-earned, and outside-half Gareth David scored 12 points for Bridgend - a try between Booth's two efforts - two conversions and a 40-metre straight penalty.

They brought this season's Premier total to 213.

Meanwhile, Pontypool centre Sione Tuipuloto, who scored a try as a Dragons' replacement against Scarlets the previous night, was again on the scoresheet - converting Mike Jones's 70th-minute try.

Mills was back on the field for the second home try eight minutes later by solid full-back David Smith.

Pontypool		(0)12-22(22)		Bridgend	FT
Tries: Jones Smith				Tries: David Booth 2
Cons: Tuipuloto				Cons: David 2
				Pens: David

Welsh Premiership May 03, 2005
		P	W	D	L	PTS
1	Neath	31	26	0	5	78
2	Newport	31	25	0	6	72
3	Llanelli	31	20	0	11	60
4	Bridgend	30	21	0	9	60
5	Cross Keys	32	19	0	13	57
6	Carmarthen	31	18	1	12	55
7	Pontypridd	31	17	1	13	52
8	Cardiff	31	17	0	14	51
9	Aberavon	30	17	0	13	51
10	Swansea	30	16	2	12	50
11	Ebbw Vale	32	14	0	18	39
12	Pontypool	32	12	1	19	37
13	Bedwas	31	12	0	19	36
14	Llandovery	31	11	0	20	33
15	Caerphilly	32	8	0	24	24
16	Llanharan	31	4	1	26	13
17	Newbridge	31	4	0	27	9