By Zippy
January 29 2006

Review of the Welsh Premiership games from the 28th January 2006. Ponty won narrowly at home to Swansea and the Ravens had a big win at home to Ebbw Vale.

Pontypridd 30 Swansea 26

 

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

 

The game burst into life early on as Ponty launched what was at first a hesitant attack from their own line, but the pace picked up by winger Matthew Nuthall, the move carried on by Wayne Evans, and the unlikely figure of prop Scott Roberts galloping over for a cracker of a try, the score converted by outside half Flanagan. The long range line kicks of Morgan Stoddart kept the home team up in their opponents’ half, in what was so far an entertaining contest. A smart piece of role reversal saw Dai Flanagan shipping the ball out to Wayne Evans, the Ponty scrum half throwing a sublime dummy to dart in for a try, again converted by Flanagan.

 

Ponty were for once over adventurous, attempting to break out from their own twenty-two, but losing the ball in contact, and yielding their initiative. Swansea were now pounding the home line, the Ponty defence holding out grimly against the onslaught. It was a speculative snipe from the visitors’ scrum half Darren Pittard which secured them a score, with a conversion to follow from outside half Stuart Thomas. The freezing cold conditions seemed to affect the home team’s play, guilty of spilling passes, in what was still a highly competitive encounter.

 

Ponty at last reintroduced the cut and thrust aspect into their play, centre Tom Riley producing a classic midfield break, followed by some excellent support play, and rewarded with a successful penalty kicked by Dai Flanagan from forty-five metres out. The home team were grappling well for possession in the loose, ending the first period on a high. A charge from prop Stuart Williams was held up just short, and with Swansea prop Lee May sin binned for infringing, Dai  Flanagan slotting over another penalty to extend Ponty’s lead. The Valley Commandos continued to thrust forward, well worthy of their interval lead of 20 pts to 7.

 

Establishing a productive line out platform, Ponty commenced the second half on the attack, flanker Lee Evans hauled down just short of the line, before departing injured, replaced by Grant Harrington. An electrifying break from full back Morgan Stoddart kept Ponty in forward gear, their opponents guilty of laying hands on the ball and conceding a penalty which Dai Flanagan converted. The Ponty outside half was then just off target with a majestic drop goal attempt, before Swansea struck back with a concerted period of pressure. Dafydd Lockyer now came on in place of Paul Matthews as Ponty once more went on the offensive,  with Stoddart effectively breaking the gain line.

 

There followed an exciting phase of attack and counter attack from both teams, before Ponty hooker Leighton Davies was dispatched to the sin bin, the home team conceding territory as they back tracked into their own twenty-two. A concerted drive from the visitors’ pack culminated in a try awarded to prop Tim Evans. Ponty now had to bring on Ian Poley in place of Chris Martenko as emergency hooker replacement, the home pack suffering a torrid time in the set pieces. Intense pressure from the All Whites eventually told as flanker Nick Kelly charged over for a try, the score converted by Stuart Thomas.

 

The game was now in the balance, going into its final twelve minutes, with Leighton Davies back on, and Gerald Cox coming on for Stuart Williams, and Ben Rose for Chris Martenko. A snap counter attack by Ponty set flanker Adam Powell off on a sprint to the line, to claim an opportunist try which Flanagan converted. True to the spirit of the game, Swansea once more struck back on the offensive, the home team reverting to some last ditch tackles to defend their line. With Chris Clayton on for the injured Morgan Stoddart, Ponty were under the cosh, backtracking in the scrums, and inevitably conceding points as Swansea winger Nicky Jones split the home midfield defence to score, his effort converted by Stuart Thomas. With Gareth Jones coming on as late replacement for Wayne Evans, and Stuart Williams back on for Gerald Cox, Ponty were defending grimly into injury time, holding on to slender lead. Swansea continued to mount considerable pressure, but Ponty just holding out for a narrow victory by 30 pts to 26.

 

Pontypridd	30 - 26 (20 - 7)	Swansea
Tries: S Roberts, W Evans, A Powell		Tries: D Pittard, T Evans, N Kelly, N Jones
Pens: D Flanagan 3
Cons: D Flanagan 3		Cons: S Thomas 2, N Thomas

 

Bridgend 30-5 Ebbw Vale

 

Wales on Sunday

 

COACH Chris Stephens scored a try six minutes after going on as a substitute to help Ravens sustain their title challenge.

 

"Our skipper and lock Mike Powell had a bump on the knee, so I came on," Stephens said last night.

 

He added, "That's only the second match I'd come off the bench this season.

 

"I'm not making a habit of it. A win, that's the main thing."

 

Vale's new head coach Alex Codling stayed focused after his fourth match in charge.

 

"More discipline is needed, but I'm pleased with our competitive spirit," he said.

 

Giving away three penalties for Bridgend's 9-0 interval lead was the last thing Codling needed.

 

Two Ravens tries in seven minutes midway through the second half killed off Vale's hopes. Brilliant flanker Adam Whitney scored the first.

 

 

Stephens then pounced as he took an inside pass from wing Richard Radford who broke up the left flank.

 

And outside-half Mark David scored the third Bridgend try with a break from 30 metres.

 

Vale wing Andrew Bevan's 67th minute try capped one of the best moves of the match.

 

Vale, without three regulars including Neil Edwards who recently had a third yellow card, slipped to a third successive league defeat.

 

Bridgend gained a fourth double of the season with their seventh win in the last eight Premier games.

 

Bridgend	30 - 5 (9 - 0)	Ebbw Vale
Tries: A Whitney, C Stephens, G David		Tries: A Bevan
Pens: M David, G David 2
Cons: G David 3

 

Welsh Premiership Table

28 January 2006

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
1	Neath	18	17	0	1	605	255	51
2	Bridgend	19	15	0	4	454	347	45
3	Pontypridd	19	14	0	5	518	331	42
4	Aberavon	18	14	0	4	502	296	42
5	Llanelli	19	12	0	7	353	377	36
6	Cross Keys	18	11	0	7	332	291	33
7	Newport	18	10	0	8	368	378	30
8	Bedwas	19	8	1	10	364	382	25
9	Swansea	18	8	0	10	483	457	24
10	Pontypool	20	6	2	12	299	380	20
11	Maesteg	19	6	1	12	341	465	19
12	Llandovery	19	6	0	13	365	435	18
13	Glamorgan Wanderers	19	6	0	13	356	479	18
14	Carmarthen	19	6	0	13	327	515	18
15	Ebbw Vale	19	5	0	14	344	447	15
16	Cardiff	19	4	0	15	330	506	12