Magnificent Seven for Pontypridd in 14-try thriller

Pontypridd .... 47 Newport .......... 45

PONTYPRIDD made it seven league wins out of seven when they beat Newport in an incredible encounter with both sides equally sharing 14 tries at Sardis Road.

The score suggests a humdinger, but the margin of victory was only slight because the plucky visitors scored 19 unanswered points in the final three minutes, their last coming with the final move of the match.

The visitors had a dream start when full back Geraint O’Driscoll crossed for a converted try after just 19 seconds, the Sardis Road outfit making a mess of the kick-off.

Ponty outside-half Diggy Bird slotted a penalty before the hosts scored two quick-fire tries.

Centre and captain and Dafydd Lockyer crossed before openside Rhys Shellard bagged one of the tries of the season following a stunning team move, Bird kicking both conversions.

The Ponty fly-half kicked a penalty before his opposite number Matt O’Brien got an unconverted try.

Ponty wings Alex Webber and Geraint Walsh got tries three and four respectively to make it 3012 at the interval.

Wing Haydn Palmer’s interception try just after half-time to give the visitors fresh hope.

Ponty put the game beyond doubt when number eight Morgan Sieniawski and centre Gary Williams crossed for tries before O’Brien got Newport’s bonus point try. Star man Rhys Shellard - Pontypridd