Up for the cup
CROSS KEYS ............... 37 PONTYPRIDD .............. 42
A LONG-RANGE penalty from outside half Josh Prosser gave Cross Keys the early lead but from the re-start Ponty worked their way into the Keys 22 and following an infringement at the breakdown Ceri Sweeney slotted over the easy penalty.
Ponty then came close to scoring following a kick and chase counter, with winger Dale Stuckey putting a foot in touch just short. It was the Keys however who put points on the board as Josh Prosser kicked another penalty when Ponty were guilty of holding on to the ball at the breakdown.
The first try of the afternoon was claimed by Ceri Sweeney after he supported an excellent break by wing Dale Stuckey to touch down under the posts, the outside half then converting his own score. The frantic first half continued as Keys’ winger Matt Powell collected a cross-field kick to touch down in the corner with Prosser converting from a wide angle.
Back-to-back penalties conceded by Cross Keys saw Ponty lay siege to their tryline and when the ball was worked wide it found prop Mitch Auger in midfield to crash over the line for a try. Ponty had the momentum now and after another Ceri Sweeney break set up excellent field position, centre Cameron Lewis stepped his way through for a try which creator Sweeney duly converted.
With half-time approaching Prosser again kicked a long-range penalty to see the sides go in at the break with the score 16-22 in Ponty’s favour.
That lead was extended straight from the restart as wing Joe Davies broke clear from the half way line to pass on to supporting flanker Dafi Davies who dived in under the posts, Sweeney again kicking the easy conversion. A long-range penalty by Sweeney further extended Ponty’s lead on the 50-minute mark.
Joe Davies then got a deserved try when he charged down an attempted clearing kick to touch down next to the posts, Sweeney’s efficiency with the boot continuing as he slotted the conversion.
When a counter attack by Cross Keys was halted by a late tackle, Ponty full back Gary Williams was dispatched to the sin bin, with the Gwent team about to take full advantage of their numerical superiority, scoring three converted tries in quick-fire succession.
Replacement Rhys Fitzgerald, and wingers Matthew Powell and Joe Goodchild all broke through on the counter attack to touch down, with Josh Prosser maintaining a 100% record with the boot to convert. Ponty looked shell shocked, with the outcome of the game in the balance going into the final five minutes and a period of added time.
The nerves were settled as Ponty battled for a turnover and gave Ceri Sweeney the opportunity to kick a last-gasp penalty to seal the victory by 3742.