Ponty hold on to make the last eight of the cup
WRU NATIONAL CUP ROUND TWO
WITH Pontypridd conceding a penalty straight from the kick-off, the visitors took an early lead as outside half Matt O’Brien easily converted in front of the posts.
The home side responded by spending time camped on Newport’s line and when a lineout drive couldn’t be stopped from five metres out, it was hooker Huw Dowden who claimed the try which outside half Ceri Sweeney converted.
The 20 minutes that followed was dominated by injury stoppages and errors from both teams which contributed to a stop-start contest.
The match finally sprung into life as Ponty captain Dafydd Lockyer broke out wide to find his centre partner Bradley Coombes up in support and passing on to wing Lewis I Williams who raced in at the corner to finish off an excellent phase of play.
Newport replacement outside half Geraint O’Driscoll missed a long range penalty attempt just before half-time with Ponty, who had dominated long periods of territory and possession, going in at the interval holding a 12-3 advantage.
The Valley Commandos got the second half off to the perfect start when replacement Hemi Barnes crossed out wide after a good midfield break by Ceri Sweeney, who then converted the score. Ponty further extended their lead as scrum half Wayne Evans took advantage of a Newport error to chip ahead and gather to claim an opportunist try which Sweeney expertly converted from a wide angle.
As Ponty disrupted the Black and Ambers’ lineout, Wayne Evans sniped down the blindside on half way, releasing the fleet footed Lewis I Williams who raced down the touchline to score his second try of the match.
The visitors responded by finally claiming their first try of the match on the hour mark as centre Chay Smith broke off some attempted tackles to score under the posts, with O’Driscoll adding the conversion. Some poor Ponty tackling allowed Newport to cross again courtesy of full back Llywarch ap Myrddin with O’Driscoll again converting.
The frustrations of a keenly fought cup tie broke out into a fracas before Ponty replacement Lewis K Williams opted to kick an easy penalty to extend his side’s lead. It was Newport however who were now in the ascendancy, winger Elliot Frewen racing round the home defence to score in the corner.
The visitors’ comeback was now very much on and a tense final 10 minutes was set up as Newport hooker Henry Palmer barged over for a try which O’Driscoll converted. The Black and Ambers had one last chance to claim an unlikely victory but knocked on an interception attempt on halfway. Pontypridd were grateful to hold out for a 34-29 victory in what had been a tense but entertaining cup tie.