Ponty onslaught sets up intriguing clash with leaders

PONTYPRIDD put Cross Keys to the sword.

They ran in 11 tries in a totally one-sided game that saw them storm into second place in the Premiership.

Now they look forward to a tasty away match against table-toppers Merthyr on November 9.

Keys could manage only two interception tries from wing Rory Budina.

Such was the Ponty dominance they led 40-5 at the interval. Leon Andrews and his men were outplayed in every phase of the game as Ponty produced some magical attacking by both forwards and backs.

Ponty’s tries came from wing Alex Webber, full back Dale Stuckey (2), No.8 Steffan Jenkins, prop Gareth Smith, hooker Geraint Clarke, lock Sean Moore, centre Alex Knott, replacement scrum-half Huw Rees, replacement lock Ioan Davies and flanker Alun Lawrence.

Outside-half Ben Jones kicked nine conversions.

Apart from Budina’s efforts, one of which was converted by outside-half Will Kelly, there was little to shout about in the Cross Keys camp.

They will need to regroup quickly if they are to get back to winning ways and avoid a relegation dogfight.

It was Ponty’s fifth consecutive win and definitely ranks as one of their best in terms of pace, power and sheer class that utterly overwhelmed their bedraggled opponents.