By Zippy
January 2 2006

Review of the games in the Welsh Premiership from New Years Eve. Ponty won the derby against Cardiff but Bridgend went down to title favourites Neath at home.

Pontypridd 28 Cardiff 16

 

By http://www.PontypriddRFC.co.uk - Rygbi Pontypridd - Official Website / Y Wefan Swyddogol - The Valleys' Premier Team.

 

Ponty went on the retreat from the kick off, their missed touch finders giving the visitors scope to counter attack. Cardiff’s early period of dominance was rewarded with a penalty converted by their outside half Chris Anderson, with seven minutes gone. Ponty were attempting to unleash their back line, an incisive break by Matthew Nuthall giving them impetus upfield, an overlap created for Chris Clayton, but the winger losing the ball as he crossed the line. Undeterred, the home team worked hard to up the tempo of the game, scrum half Gareth Jones darting through the visitors’ defence, providing plenty of entertainment for a large and vociferous Sardis Road crowd.

 

Despite all their efforts, Ponty committed errors to yield their initiative, Cardiff setting up a series of forward drives, then manufacturing a neat midfield move for full back Jamie Roberts to cruise in for a try, the score converted by Anderson. Any attempts by Ponty to strike back were undone by their handling errors, and their problems compounded as Richard Langmead pulled wide a kickable penalty. A quickly taken tap penalty from Gareth Jones set Ponty off on a robust attack, and claiming their first points of the afternoon through a Langmead penalty from in front of the posts. With Morgan Stoddart on for the injured Jason Pocock, Ponty were now showing a real hunger for possession, and more inventiveness in attack. The home forwards were scavenging for every loose ball, keeping play up in the visitors’ twenty-two, but for all their hard work, failing to put points on the board.

 

Playing a series of tap penalties followed by hard driving play, Ponty gained a field position to set up an attacking line out and drive over the line, but no score given. The home team were now camped on the Cardiff line, a pick up and drive from the base of a scrum again very nearly creating a score. Gathering a clearance kick, Ponty full back Stoddart set off on an abrasive run, the ball recycled and fed out to centre Tom Riley who crossed for a try. The home team were again furious in their efforts to claim loose ball, another counter attack instigated by Stoddart and followed by a fine break from winger Nuthall, who was driven over to claim a touchdown, giving Ponty an interval lead of 13 pts to 10.

 

The second half commenced as a carbon copy of the first, Cardiff taking up the initiative in attack, but outside half Anderson pulling wide a penalty attempt. Ponty responded like a pack of dervishes, hounding and harassing their opponents relentlessly to get back on top. A Stoddart break from his own twenty-two sent Ponty on a flowing move upfield, showing excellent handling skills and support play. The home team were pounding the gain line, unstoppable until flanker Rhys Shellard crossed the line, but the ball dislodged from his grip in the act of scoring. Ponty were applying intense pressure, another burst from Morgan Stoddart well supported by lock Chris Martenko, but a knock on proving costly to the home team’s efforts to score.

 

Going into the final quarter of an action packed encounter, Ponty were camped in the visitors’ twenty-two, Rhys Shellard setting off on a gallop and winger Clayton pulled down just short of the line. Recycling the ball well, Ponty set up centre Dafydd Lockyer on a charge which took him over for a crucial try, the score converted by Langmead. Cardiff responded with a successful Chris Anderson penalty, before Adam Powell came off the bench in place of Rhys Shellard, and Grant Harrington in place of Chris Martenko. Ponty were now well and truly in the driving seat, punching holes in the gain line and showing great support skills to maintain their dominance. A series of attacking scrums and drives by the home pack gave Richard Langmead the opportunity to stroke over another penalty. Against the run of play, Cardiff struck back with another Anderson penalty, before another double substitution saw Gerald Cox coming on for Ryan Harford and Darren Berry for Chris Clayton. Unrelenting to the end, Ponty swarmed upfield, a kick and rush attack finished off with a try claimed by centre Riley, wrapping up a fine performance by the Valley Commandos, which could have earned them a far more comprehensive winning margin than the 28 pts to 16 registered on the scoreboard.

 

Pontypridd	28 - 16 (13 - 10)	Cardiff
Tries: T Riley 2, M Nuthall, D Lockyear		Tries: J Roberts
Pens: R Langmead 2		Pens: C Anderson 3
Cons: R Langmead		Cons: C Anderson

 

Bridgend 16 Neath 25

 

The Western Mail

 

CHAMPIONS Neath have come a long way since losing for the only time this season at Pontypridd back in September, writes Tony Poole.

 

Though not at their best, there was no stopping the Blacks once they switched to victory mode during the final quarter.

 

However, Bridgend made them dig deep for victory, and they were looking in good shape when 16-10 ahead in the 63rd minute.

 

But they conceded victory - along with an associated 16-match ground record dating back to November 2004 - once their outstanding captain and lock Mike Powell was yellow-carded for ball killing.

 

But the champions, well served by back-row men James Davies and Hywel Jenkins, prop Cai Griffiths and hooker Gerwyn Price, then kicked for home and registered a 13th consecutive league victory.

 

And they sealed victory on the strength of a second try from lock Martin Morgan, a summer recruit from Penzance Pirates, together with a James Hook drop-goal and a seventh league try of the campaign from fly-half Arwel Thomas.

 

This entertaining encounter gave a peep of what might unfold when the clubs meet again at The Gnoll on Saturday week in the Konica-Minolta Cup.

 

But before that the Blacks go head-to-head in another top league clash against second-placed Pontypridd at home this coming Saturday.

 

The win over Bridgend strengthened their position at the top and if they should make it 25 home wins on the trot against Ponty, then they will be odds-on favourites to retain the Premiership crown.

 

Bridgend	16 - 25 (6 - 7)	Neath
Tries: M Powell		Tries: M Morgan 2, A Thomas
Pens: G David 3		Pens: J Hook
		Drops: J Hook
Cons: G David		Cons: J Hook 2

 

Welsh Premiership Table

31 December 2005

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Neath	15	14	0	1	519	206	42
2	Pontypridd	15	12	0	3	420	253	36
3	Bridgend	16	12	0	4	372	307	36
4	Aberavon	14	10	0	4	381	243	30
5	Llanelli	16	10	0	6	304	333	30
6	Cross Keys	15	10	0	5	304	229	30
7	Newport	15	10	0	5	317	309	30
8	Bedwas	15	7	1	7	290	299	22
9	Swansea	15	6	0	9	401	414	18
10	Pontypool	16	5	1	10	245	318	16
11	Maesteg	15	5	0	10	289	376	15
12	Glamorgan Wanderers	14	5	0	9	281	353	15
13	Ebbw Vale	15	4	0	11	280	353	12
14	Llandovery	16	4	0	12	310	360	12
15	Cardiff	16	4	0	12	264	403	12
16	Carmarthen	16	3	0	13	248	469	9