Ponty keep up title push as Whites’ run ends

PONTYPRIDD maintained their title push with a 31-19 bonus-point win over Swansea at Sardis Road last night – a result that ended the Whites’ six-game winning run in the Principality Premiership.

A quick-tap penalty from scrumhalf Joel Raikes set up the opening try for centre Alex Knott in the fourth minute, converted by Diggy Bird.

Gareth Rees replied for Swansea on 13 minutes, converted by Josh Thomas, but the visitors were being overpowered by Ponty at scrum time and that led to the hosts’ second try on 26 minutes with Raikes sending Alex Webber away, with Bird again converting. The hosts then stretched their lead to 21-7 six minutes later when they were awarded a penalty try with Swansea’s Jay Williams sinbinned for collapsing a maul.

Williams returned but things went from bad to worse for Swansea a minute before the break with Rees yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on and resulting in Ponty being awarded a second penalty try.

Ben Jones booted a penalty for the hosts eight minutes after the re-start with Swansea grabbing late tries through Morgan Morris and then Andrew Claypole but ultimately the damage had been done in the first half.

Elsewhere Cardiff moved level on points with leaders Merthyr after defeating Bedwas 35-17.

Tom Williams raced clear after some neat interplay with wing Joe Gatt to notch their first after only four minutes,

Morgan Allen trundled over from a driving line-out and then Ben Thomas produced some magic to score with an outrageous dummy. Gareth Thompson converted all three as the Blue and Blacks led 21-12 at half time.

The bonus point for Cardiff came 10 minutes after the re-start as centre Will Rees-Hole barged his way over from close range after an Allen charge had softened up the Bedwas defence. Once again Thompson added the extras.

A second try from Thomas, running on to a neatly weighted grub kick from 15 metres out by replacement outside-half Steffan Jones, sealed the deal for Cardiff.

Connor Edwards, James Richards and Rory Harris got the Bedwas tries with Joe Scrivens adding a conversion.

Reigning champions Merthyr host Neath today.