Ponty scrape through despite a spirited Newport display

PONTYPRIDD resisted a red-hot Newport comeback to secure a battling victory and advance to the quarterfinals of the WRU National Cup.

Ponty eventually ran out 34-29 winners over their valiant visitors, who had to come back from a monumental deficit to try and secure a passge to the next round of the cup.

The Sardis Road side cut loose to soar into a 31-3 lead thanks to scores from Huw Dowden, Hemi Barnes, Wayne Evans and a double from Lewis I Williams.

It was the kind of gap that could have forced Newport to accept defeat.

But the Black and Ambers’ never-say-die attitude shone through as they staged a second-half comeback to take the tie down to the wire. But Chay Smith and Llewarch ap Myrddin sparked the fight-back before Elliot Frewen and Henry Palmer took it down to the wire.

Dowden was shunted over from a lineout to kickoff the scoring for Ponty before Daf Lockyer broke clean through to setup Williams to make it 12-3 at half-time. It was more of the same from the captain after the break, but this time he sent Barnes crashing over.

Evans collected his hack through to score before Williams completed his double as Ponty looked to secure a big win. But Smith and Ap Myrddin crossed before Frewen gave Newport real hope. Ponty notched a penalty to take them out of sight before Henry Palmer’s late score. Star man Lewis I Williams - Pontypridd