Pontypridd 66-28 Llangennech – Match Report
Pontypridd got 2025 off to a fine start with an emphatic bonus-point win over Llangennech at Sardis Road.
The match got underway and the visitors attempted to open the scoring in the first three minutes, but a penalty from Steff Marshall went wide.
Ponty got their first try of the match after they exposed the blindside of the visitors with some neat handling from captain Cally James and Joe Miles who put wing Iwan Griffith into space, and he ran in to score a debut try.
The hosts created a second chance moments later through a powerful carry from centre Ioan Evans, Lucus Welch picked from the breakdown as the Llangennech defence failed to reorganise and the scrum half ran in for a second try of the afternoon. The conversion from fly-half Jaydan Pugh was successful, giving the home side a 12-0 lead after 10 minutes.
Ponty kept their momentum going in the opening 20 minutes with a third try from blindside flanker Lloyd Riley who powered over from short range. Pugh’s extras was successful.
Llangennech supporters did have something to shout about in the 25th minute after a well worked try from outside centre Kalum Evans who cut a lovely line through the Ponty defence of Evans and Griffith to score.
The four try bonus point was wrapped up after half an hour when Welch was at hand to score his second of the afternoon following a break from second row Kristian Parker down the wing. Jaydan Pugh’s third successful conversion made it 26 points to 7.
Moments before halftime, Ponty second row Mitch Barnard was shown a yellow card following an offside infringement less than five meters from the tryline.
In the half’s final play, the visitors struck for a second time after a rolling maul was pulled down illegally by the home side. Llan tighthead prop Richard Bassett burrowed over from short range to score, with Marshall’s conversion taking the teams into the interval with Ponty leading 26-14.
HALF TIME: Pontypridd 26-14 Llangennech
The second half kicked off and despite having a player disadvantage, Ponty opened the scoring when Iwan Griffith, now playing in the centre, picked up his second in the corner after an overlap which saw the forwards and backs combining.
A few minutes later, Griffith picked up his hat-trick after coming onto the ball at pace to break through the Llan defence to score under the crossbar with Ponty breaking out from inside their own half in the build-up. Jaydan Pugh’s conversion made the score 38-14 after 51 minutes.
The hosts were looking for try number seven but ended up conceding an interception from the opposition tryline when replacement Will Thomas picked off a pass from Ponty replacement Jacob Symes. Despite a chase from George Thorrington, the replacement managed to dot down for his team’s third try.
Ponty’s hunt for a seventh try didn’t last too long after an acrobatic finish from replacement Louis Rochefort-Shugar in the left corner was converted by Symes.
Replacement prop Kian Mattravers crashed over in the final few minutes to take Ponty over the half century mark, with Symes adding a second conversion – 52-21 after 76 minutes.
The visitors didn’t give up in their pursuit of a bonus point and picked it up through outside centre Kalum Evans who bagged his second after breaking through with a show and go.
With the clock ticking close to the 80th minute, there was still time for two late Ponty scores. Rochefort-Shugar picked up his second of the afternoon, before the final try was scored by Joel Raikes who was on hand to support a Jeff Young linebreak. The final conversion from Symes was the final act of a highly entertaining contest which ended 66-28 to the hosts.
Pontypridd will head to Newbridge next weekend on January 25th in their next Welsh Premiership fixture.
FULL TIME: Pontypridd 66-28 Llangennech (18/1/2025)
Match report – Iestyn Thomas
PONTYPRIDD –
15. Dale Stuckey. 14. Joe Davies (George Thorrington). 13. Stuart Floyd-Ellis (Louis Rochefort-Shugar). 12. Ioan Evans. 11. Iwan Griffith. 10. Jaydan Pugh (Jacob Symes). 9. Lucus Welch (Joel Raikes).
1. Ben Drew (Kian Mattravers). 2. Rob Jones (Jeff Young). 3. Garyn Daniel (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Lloyd Riley. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles (Ieuan Davies).
Subs: 16. Jeff Young. 17. Kian Mattravers. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Ieuan Davies. 20. George Thorrington. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Jacob Symes. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar.
Tries: Iwan Griffith x 3, Lucus Welch x 2, Lloyd Riley, Louis Rochefort-Shugar x 2, Kian Mattravers, Joel Raikes
Conversions: Jaydan Pugh x 4, Jacob Symes x 4
Yellow Card: Mitch Barnard
LLANGENNECH –
15. Luke Davies. 14. Eray Wilson. 13. Kalum Evans. 12. Ryan Davies. 11. Harrison Button. 10. Steff Marshall. 9. Gareth George.
1. Iestyn Jones. 2. Finn Thomas. 3. Richard Bassett. 4. Jordan Evans. 5. Ryan Morgans. 6. Keanu Evans. 7. Shaun Edwards (c). 8. Taine Morgan.
Subs: 16. Luke Williams. 17. Tom Phillips. 18. Brandon Lee. 19. Kieran Allen. 20. Finlay Cooke. 21. Tom Morgan. 22. Wil Thomas. 23. Josh Edwards.
Tries: Kalum Evans x 2, Richard Bassett, Wil Thomas
Conversions: Steff Marshall x 4
Referee: Nathan James
Assistant Referee/Third Official: Tony Davies
Golden Bob Man of the Match: Iwan Griffith
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