Pontypridd 10-26 Newport – Match Report

Ponty’s pre-season preparations moved up a significant gear as they hosted reigning SRC champions Newport at a sunny Sardis Road. The game proved to be a competitive one with the final scoreline of 10pts to 26 in the Black and Ambers’ favour not entirely reflecting the hard fought encounter that was.

The home side made a positive start with ball in hand, winger Dale Stuckey taking a quick tap penalty to surge ahead and momentum maintained through a strong scrum but with no breakthrough made. Newport responded with a snap counter only to be foiled by a handling error. Ponty were in the early ascendancy, although sometimes faltering on their own line-out throws, showing up well in the set-pieces and maintaining a territorial advantage. Tempers simmered with an off the ball set-to between the opposing packs before the visitors, against the run of play, broke the deadlock as winger Noah Morgan cut through for a try which outside half Carwyn Penny converted.

Newport were now back in the game and benefitting as Ponty conceded penalties in defence, with full back Joe Salter going close in the corner. Although mostly on the back foot the home team were aggressive in their tackling and more than capable of holding their own. After Newport had countered from deep following a quick throw, Ponty finally forged a breakthrough, kicking penalties to touch rather than at goal and from a line-out drive sending hooker Connah Hughes over for a close range try. The visitors finished the first half strongly but Ponty holding out to trail narrowly by 5pts to 7.

HALF TIME: Pontypridd 5-7 Newport

Newport struck almost straight from the restart as Carwyn Penny instigated a dynamic attack finished off by winger Finley Baker who crossed wide out. Ponty responded with some concerted phases of attack, again electing to kick their penalties to touch but yielding the initiative through their own line-out failings. Black and Amber winger Iwan Pyrs-Jones was testing the home defence with his weaving runs but as yet to no avail, as both sides strove hard in attack but with errors made typical of a summer friendly.

Going into the final quarter, Newport launched a wide foray spearheaded by back rower Ben Roach only for Ponty to counter but the visitors then striking back to send Pyrs-Jones over for a try which was converted by replacement Llew O’Brien. Ponty were in need of a boost to stay in contention and did so as Oli Shepherd fashioned a dynamic break with opposite winger George Thorrington in support to claim an unconverted touchdown.

The home team were regaining confidence but Newport always posing a real threat, despite having full back Joe Salter sent to the sin-bin. Now showing up strongly in the set-pieces the Black and Ambers time and again tested a hard grafting home defence, but relied on a slice of luck to round off the scoring as Llew O’Brien seized an interception to score a try under the posts which he duly converted. Newport finished the game the stronger, running out as worthy victors by 10pts to 26 following a hard fought friendly encounter.

FULL TIME: Pontypridd 10-26 Newport (9/8/2025)

Match report – Guto Davies

Pontypridd:

15.Charlie Hancock. 14.Iwan Griffith (George Thorrington). 13.Stuart Floyd-Ellis (Rhys Conquer). 12.Callum Coxley. 11.Dale Stuckey (Oli Shepherd). 10.Jorge Lucey (Rhodri Smith). 9.Owain Paskel.

1.Ben Drew (Tom Fry). 2.Connah Hughes (Dylan Kelly). 3.Kian Mattravers (Dan Cotterell). 4.Mitch Barnard (Joe Buckle). 5.Kristian Parker (Mitch Barnard). 6.Cally James (Ben Bora). 7.Iestyn Harris (Rhys Emmott). 8.Jordan Coxley.

Tries: Connah Hughes (32); George Thorrington (65)

Newport:

15.Joe Salter (Harri Dawes / Joe Salter). 14.Finlay Baker. 13.Iestyn Galton (Jon Morris). 12.Chay Foster-Smith. 11.Noah Morgan (Iwan Pyrs-Jones). 10.Carwyn Penny (Llew O’Brien). 9.Lewis Stevens (Shay Lewis).

1.Tom Workman (Liam Newstead). 2.Aneurin Jenkins (Barney Nightingale). 3.Liam Newstead (Codi Purnell / Harley Ryan). 4.Josh Skinner. 5.Johan Hoogendorn. 6.Cerrig Smith (Josh Reid). 7.Scott Davies (Josh Hart). 8.Ben Roach (Joe Laughlin).

Tries: Noah Morgan (15); Finley Baker (41); Iwan Pyrs-Jones (63); Llew O’Brien (77)

Cons: Carwyn Penny (16, 63); Llew O’Brien (78)

Yellow Card: Joe Salter                                                                                 

Referee: Keith David

Assistant Referee 1: Max Clements

Assistant Referee 2: Aled Williams

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