Pontypridd made it three Premiership victories in a row with a 38-0 win over Newcastle Emlyn at Dôl Wiber.
Wing Joe Davies scored a brace of tries whilst Ioan Evans, Cai James, Jeff Young and Mitch Barnard also touched down for scores. Aside from the offensive display, interim-Head Coach Kristian Parker will be delighted with his team’s effort in defence especially during a tricky opening 40 minutes as the hosts failed to capitalise on several chances.
Ponty opened the scoring after a few minutes following a lovely pass from Garyn Smith in midfield putting his centre partner Stuart Floyd-Ellis in space on the wing, the outside centre was stopped short of the try line. But some quick thinking from scrum half Lucus Welch, who opted to the blindside with a miss pass to Joe Davies who stepped the final defender to score the first points of the match. Jaydan Pugh’s conversion drifted to the right of the posts, but Pontypridd led.
The hosts attempted to pile on some pressure with two charge downs in succession from Lucus Welch box-kicks, but Ponty managed to relieve pressure following a breakdown penalty.
A high shot from Welch on halfway gave Emlyn an opportunity inside the Ponty 22 but they were denied after a turnover from captain Cally James.
A Ponty opportunity came from another scrum penalty near the halfway line on the half hour mark, but the resulting lineout from Rob Jones was deemed not straight by referee Kristoff Young.
The visitors did cross the try line a few minutes before the halftime interval when the rolling maul crossed the line, but referee Young adjudged the ball to be held up. Following the drop out, Ponty applied yet more pressure and managed to score through replacement Ioan Evans when an attacking overlap exposed a gap in the home side’s defence.
Newcastle Emlyn continued to look for their first points in the half’s final play, but a knock on saw the end of the first forty minutes with Ponty leading 12-0 at the interval.
HALF TIME – Newcastle Emlyn 0-12 Pontypridd
Play got underway after the break and Joe Davies started the second half like he did with the first when he picked up his second try of the afternoon after some neat play and an offload from Ioan Evans. Jaydan Pugh missed the conversion but Ponty extended their lead to 17 points.
The bonus point try was scored just a few minutes later when halfbacks Welch and Pugh linked up in attack to put blindside flanker Cai James over for the score. Pugh then added the extra two points for a 24-0 lead after 50 minutes.
Ponty kept the pressure on and with an entire new front row on the field managed to get a scrum penalty, they then went to the rolling-maul and it was Jeff Young who grounded the ball for his side’s fifth try of the afternoon. Jaydan Pugh kicked the conversion for a 31-0 lead as the match approached the hour mark.
Despite a comfortable lead, Ponty were looking to keep a solid defensive foundation with substitute Joe Miles and the all-action Mitch Barnard halting a rolling maul from the Emlyn pack.
The hosts’ second row Kester Adams was shown a yellow card by referee Kristoff Young with the game deep into the final quarter, but Ponty’s lineout started to miss fire with a knock on as the Valley Commandos looked for a sixth try.
After some attempts in the 22 which weren’t converted, the away side eventually crossed for their sixth try – it again came via a rolling maul, as it turned lock Mitch Barnard peeled off in the corner to score. Replacement flyhalf Jacob Symes’ conversion was successful to cap an impressive bonus-point win away from home.
Pontypridd return to Sardis Road next weekend in their final fixture before the festive period when they welcome Ystrad Rhondda in the Welsh Premiership on Saturday 21st December.
FULL TIME – Newcastle Emlyn 0-38 Pontypridd (14/12/2024)
Match report – Iestyn Thomas
PONTYPRIDD –
15. Dale Stuckey. 14. Joe Davies. 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12. Garyn Smith (Ioan Evans). 11. Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 10. Jaydan Pugh (Jacob Symes). 9. Lucus Welch (Joel Raikes).
1. Ben Stephens (Ben Drew). 2. Rob Jones (Jeff Young). 3. Garyn Daniel (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Kristian Parker (Joe Miles). 6. Cai James. 7. Cally James (c) (Cole Parry). 8. Lloyd Riley.
Subs: 16. Jeff Young. 17. Ben Drew. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Cole Parry. 20. Joe Miles. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Jacob Symes. 23. Ioan Evans.
Tries: Joe Davies x 2, Ioan Evans, Cai James, Jeff Young, Mitch Barnard
Conversions: Jaydan Pugh x 3, Jacob Symes
NEWCASTLE EMLYN –
15. Ellis Payne. 14. Llyr Jones. 13. Aled S Davies. 12. Andrew Owens. 11. Bleddyn Morgan. 10. Steffan Evans. 9. Mike Jones.
1. Emrys Davies (c). 2. Ioan Rees-Lewis. 3. Ifan Bryant. 4. Kester Adams. 5. Bleddyn Davies. 6. Gethin Davies. 7. Callum Williams. 8. Alex Williams.
Subs: 16. Dominic Hey. 17. Reece Morris. 18. Ben Hesford. 19. Lewis Ellis-Jones. 20. Calum Evans. 21. Dion Jones. 22. Osian Jones. 23. Steff W Evans.
Yellow Card: Kester Adams
Referee: Kristoff Young
Assistant Referee/Third Official: Jon Hardy
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