Ravens battle... but Ironmen are too strong
Premiership Rugby:
PONTYPRIDD bounced back from their defeat at Carmarthen Quins with victory over RGC at Sardis Road – but they had to endure some nervous moments before sealing it.
Although Ponty dominated for long periods in terms of possession and territory, they were frustrated at spurning some missed opportunities.
However, in the end they got the job done with the help of tries from Corey Sheppard, Mason Grady and skipper Dafydd Lockyer.
“We put in a solid performance but were not outstanding, having controlled possession and territory for long periods, in particular the first half,” said assistant coach Paul Matthews.
“It was one sloppy line-out from us that gifted RGC a score but we spoke during the interval of managing the scoreboard, of remaining two scores ahead.
“We had to work hard at times and we missed some opportunities, which cost us a bonus point.
“But the important thing was to get the win and to give us some momentum into the next game away to Ebbw Vale.”
It took Ponty until the 24th minute to fashion a breakthrough when a quick tap-penalty followed by a wide attack allowed full-back Sheppard to cross with outside-half Diggy Bird adding the conversion.
A dynamic break by Wales Sevens flanker Morgan Sieniawski from deep within his own 22 gave Pontypridd added momentum, with centre Grady following up another wide attack to score and Bird again converting.
Having barely set foot in the home half, RGC then pounced for an opportunist score as centre Tom Hughes burst over wide out, his try converted by Billy McBryde.
A late Bird penalty edged Ponty into a 17-7 interval lead.
Another Bird penalty settled the home nerves before RGC battled back into contention, winger Afon Bagshaw crossing wide out to put the result in doubt into the final 10 minutes.
The visitors’ tendency to infringe finally had an impact as flanker Tim Grey was sent to the sin-bin, with
Ponty making the most of their numerical advantage with a series of attacking scrums, spurning kicks at goal as they did so.
Their ploy was eventually rewarded as centre Lockyer charged through from close range with replacement Lloyd Wilkins adding the extras to confirm a deserved, if sometimes laboured, home win.