Pontypridd show their class to climb back to the summit

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 200^th 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)