Pontypridd showed why
they are the defending champions in the Principality Premiership with a
cut-throat display to down Bridgend Ravens at the Brewery Field.
They only entered the Bridgend 22 on roughly four occasions
in the first half, and ended the 40 minutes with three tries. They then turned
up the pressure in the second half to earn a bonus point and threatened to run
riot, before a late flourish from the hosts.
The result means Ponty have now won 12 of their 13 league
fixtures, and lead second-placed Bedwas by three points with a game in hand.
In just the second minute, with the first meaningful attack,
Ponty winger Matthew Nuthal burst down the left wing, and when he was halted
they worked the ball right back across the field creating an overlap. Jake Thomas collected from
Geraint Walsh to dive over, with former Ravens man Dai Flanagan converting.
Flanagan was then needed in defence. Bridgend’s Tom Morgan
broke from the back of a scrum, and after a succession of drives, Steve Winn was
stopped just short of the line by Flanagan, with the ball spilled as the hosts
tried to recycle.
Bridgend continued to try and respond, but Ponty’s defence
was standing firm.
The reverse can be said about their scrum, though. Continual
indiscipline led to a raft of penalties, with Bridgend’s Lewis Williams
converting one of these to cut the deficit to four points.
Then just before the half hour, Walsh caught a clearance
kick and was back in the Bridgend 22 in seconds. Ponty worked the ball across the
line brilliantly to Nuthal, who was halted, and Thomas collected to dive over
for his and Ponty’s second try. Flanagan missed the conversion from the touchline.
Just before the break, Ponty delivered a sucker punch to the
hosts when a forward drive, instigated by hooker Huw Dowden, charged right
through the Bridgend 22 before the defence were penalised for holding it up
illegally and a penalty try was given.
Flanagan converted from in front of the posts to rub salt in to the
wound.
Ponty introduced prop Stuart Williams at half-time for his
200th appearance for the club, and he was soon celebrating again as
his side collected a fourth try and bonus point. They worked the ball
along the line and wing wizard Chris Clayton gratefully received on the right wing
to dive over virtually unchallenged. Flanagan again converted.
Five minutes later came the pick of the bunch. Starting only
his second game, Lloyd Williams at scrum half looked a seasoned pro and gave an
energetic performance. He collected the ball from a line-out and fed Flanagan,
who deftly chipped the ball over the defence. Gavin Dacey was first to
the ball ahead of a team-mate and a static Bridgend defence and he clutched it
to his chest and slid over the line. Flanagan converted to take his personal
points tally to 200 for the season.
The game dipped somewhat as the substitutions rolled, but
Bridgend’s at least sparked some life in to their attacking threat. One notable
introduction was that of Bridgend’s Glenn Holloway, who was making his first
appearance for the club.
After spending most of the second half on the back foot,
substitute Lloyd Evans broke from deep inside his own half with the ball
eventually ending up in the Ponty 22. A lovely long pass out wide followed
successive drives, and it dropped in to the hands of Evans to dive over for a
consolation try. Williams’ attempted conversion hit the outside of the post.
There were two further try opportunities for Ponty, ruined
by spilt balls with the line at their mercy. Walsh was the first guilty party
after chasing his own kick and Owen Williams, dropping another chip forward,
but by then Ponty were already top and cruising to victory.
Star man: Dai
Flanagan (Pontypridd)
