Ponty subdue Neath at fortress Lawrence
PONTYCYMER ...........31 NEATH ATHLETIC .......3
PONTYCYMER welcomed Neath Athletic to fortress Lawrence, looking to complete a season double over the Cwrt Herbert based side. When the two sides met last October it was the Garw Valley outfit that took the spoils late on, recording a 12-9 victory.
It was the Green and Ambers who looked the stronger in the opening exchanges of this Division Three West Central encounter, playing hightempo and skills-based Polynesian style rugby.
In no.8 Rhys Hosey and lock Zack James, they had forwards of immense power and ability to win the gainline, while behind the scrum they had centre Nathan Silverthorne and scrum half Steve John, who both can fizz out passes and create, as well as truck the ball up the middle and act as a target for their powerhouse pack.
Home outside half Tom Davies opened the scoring with three quickfire penalties, the Green and Ambers then went through the gears, setting up a platform that would not looked out of place at Grand Central Station.
On the 30 minute mark came the first try of the came, when from a lineout the ball found the hands of all-action hooker Scott Forrester, who crashed over the whitewash. On the stroke of half time, the visitors got on the score-sheet with a penalty, at the interval the Lawrence Park side held, a well deserved 14-3 lead.
Pontycymer began the second half the way they finished the first, with their talisman and captain Andrew Harris leading by example, skipper Harris had been in outstanding form all afternoon, being involved in almost every passage of play, and it was Harris who got his side’s second try, Tom Davies added the extras. Ponty’s man with the midas touch no.8 Rhys Hosey, crossed for the home side’s third try, from a close range scrum. Eye catching second half displays came from Pontys pacey wing Garin Hawkins and flanker Scott Hampton.
Home centre Andrew Fryer brought the curtain down and made sure of the bonus point when he touched down in the corner for another topdrawer score rounding of another good day at the office for the Garw Valley based side.