Pontypridd kicked off their preparations for the 2024/25 season with a 28-10 win over Abercwmboi at Sardis Road.
A first half score from Mitch Barnard was followed by three second half tries for Gabe Brown, Morgan Edwards and Sam Talbot.
Abercwmboi started brightly with plenty of possession during the first few minutes, yet it was Ponty who created the first attacking chance as number 8 Joe Miles broke through the visitors midfield.
The away side entered the 22 for the first time after Ponty were caught offside, yet the hosts held out thwarting The Village’s the rolling maul.
The first 20-minute period ended scoreless following a Ponty knock on.
At the beginning of the second period of twenty minutes, Miles made a tackle and openside flanker Dylan John won a penalty in the breakdown, yet the following lineout saw the visitors awarded with a free kick.
Miles almost scored the first points of the match as he headed to the corner after a couple of neat phases of Ponty attack, but the number 8 was tackled into touch by the final Abercwmboi defender.
Pontypridd capitalised from an error as the backs spread the ball out wide to wing Ed Thomas who was stopped short of the tryline before a knock on from the hosts.
The resulting scrum saw Ponty win a penalty and scrum half Lucus Welch took a quick tap but was pulled back by the referee as he didn’t take it from the correct mark. Eventually the tap penalty was taken and after three phases the hosts crashed over through second row Mitch Barnard. Jacob Symes converted for 7-0.
Abercwmboi responded with a try of their own before the end of the first half after sustained pressure with several phases within short distance of the Ponty tryline, they scored in the corner after exploiting an overlap out wide, but the conversion was missed and Ponty led 7-5 after forty minutes.
HALF TIME – Pontypridd 7-5 Abercwmboi
Ponty crossed for their second try on the 50 minute mark when Dale Stuckey broke through the visitors defence before passing inside to replacement centre Gabe Brown who did well to ground the ball on the line. Sam Talbot converted from outwide to extend Ponty’s lead to 14 point to 5.
The visitors kept up their own intensity and picked up their second try following turnover ball in the lineout just outside Ponty’ 22, they struck on second phase when one of the Abercwmboi forwards showed good pace to run in unopposed in the corner. The resulting conversion bounced off the post.
Ponty responded immediately through replacement scrum-half Morgan Edwards who sniped through to score with Sam Talbot kicking the simple conversion, 21-10 to the home side.
As the game headed into the final quarter Stuckey was the man who created another try – this time he got the ball out wide before cutting in and beating three defenders before offloading to recently announced new signing Sam Talbot for the fourth try of the night for the Valley Commandos. Jaydan Pugh kicked the conversion to extend Ponty’s lead further.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, Pontypridd’s defence held out to claim a 28-10 win.
Ponty will be back in action next weekend away at Tenby United on the 10th August before returning to Sardis Road in their third pre-season game when they welcome Cinderford RFC on the 17th.
FULL TIME – Pontypridd 28-10 Abercwmboi (2/8/2024)
Match report – Iestyn Thomas
PONTYPRIDD –
15. Ryan Williams. 14. Ed Thomas. 13. Ty Lewis. 12. Brandon Huntley. 11. George Thorington. 10. Jacob Symes. 9. Lucus Welch (c).
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Jack Walker. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Cole Parry. 6. Lloyd Riley. 7. Dylan John. 8. Joe Miles.
Subs: Will Harford, Jeff Young, Rob Jones, Dylan Kelly, Dan Cotterell, Scott Bishop, Kristian Parker, Cai Jame, Morgan Edwards, Sam Talbot, Jaydan Pugh, Gabe Brown, Dale Stuckey.
Tries: Mitch Barnard, Gabe Brown, Morgan Edwards, Sam Talbot.
Conversions: Jacob Symes, Sam Talbot x 2, Jaydan Pugh
ABERCWMBOI –
15. Brad Lewis. 14. Griff Davies. 13. Harry Richards. 12. Jordan Rees. 11. Jack Lewis. 10. Aaron Bolitho. 9. Tom Owen.
1. Leon Moore. 2. Griff Lloyd. 3. Tal Harding. 4. Luke Brennan. 5. Tom Tarr. 6. Dai Barry (c). 7. Kriss Saunders. 8. Dylan Fidler.
Subs: Numerous, unconfirmed.
Tries: x 2
Referee: Dai Cambourne
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