Tenby United 10-26 Pontypridd – Match Report
The penultimate match in Pontypridd’s 2025 pre-season itinerary saw the team head into West Wales to play Tenby United for the second time in just over twelve months. The contest proved to be a tough workout against the Pembrokeshire hosts and included a few flashpoints, but it was the Valley Commandos that earned the win by 26 points to 10.
Tenby kicked off and a couple of very early Ponty attacks were thwarted before the away side fed into a scrum in the middle of the pitch on the Seasiders’ 10 metre line. From the scrum some neat handling in midfield saw the ball work its way to Joe Davies on the right wing, he went on one of his typical powerful runs before chipping over the top of the defence. The ball bounced up off the rock-hard ground and players from both teams flapped at it but it was Joe himself who fell on it and grounded it just before it rolled over the deadball line. Jorge Lucey knocked over an excellent conversion to give Pontypridd an early 7-0 lead.
As the match restarted the niggle between the two sides also got underway. Tenby won a penalty which allowed them to go into the corner but Ponty won the lineout and were able to clear. This was just after the referee had given both teams a firm talking to after a scuffle involving players from both sides. Pontypridd worked their way back upfield into Tenby territory and an off-the-ball skirmish boiled over in the Tenby sunshine and as a result Seasiders’ no.8 Jack Brown and Ponty captain Cally James were given their marching orders by referee Tom Carew.
Play restarted with a scrum, Ponty were awarded a penalty and went into the corner. Two efforts in quick succession ended fruitlessly for the Pont – firstly Joe Buckle knocked on in contact just before the tryline, play was brought back for another penalty advantage before Mitch Barnard was held up over the line.
Tenby openside Jesse James made a good break up through the heart of the pitch before a chip and chase from left winger Keanu Williams caused Ponty problems deep in their 22. Joel Raikes had little option other than to hack the ball dead, resulting in a scrum 5 to the home side and into midfield they went from this, but a great tackle from Garyn Smith before some good work over the ball from his team mates won the penalty.
Ponty had the final chance in the first quarter when they broke down the left with Ben Stephens firstly carrying in the 15 metre channel before feeding the ball to Kris Parker, but Tenby snuffed out the danger.
The second quarter initially started like the first with play predominantly played in the Tenby half, but some handling errors at key moments proved costly for Pontypridd. This match may have been ‘friendly’ on paper, but the opening half was anything but. After some more niggle Ponty were marched back 10 metres for dissent at the award of a penalty to Tenby. The home side were enjoying a spell of pressure and in the 26th minute Joe Davies was sin-binned for a high tackle. The resulting penalty again gave the Seasiders a chance for territory in Ponty’s half but the next stage of open play was broken up by Mitch Barnard.
In the 33rd minute Joel Raikes lit the touchpaper after he himself won a penalty after he was played at a ruck. He quickly tapped the ball 25 metres out and went on a typical sniping and jinking Joel Raikes run, evading a number of defenders before diving over in the right hand corner. Jorge Lucey missed the touchline conversion, but Ponty led 12-0.
It was the home side who finished the half in the ascendency. Deep in the Ponty 22 Joe Buckle won a Tenby lineout via an overthrow, before a dangerous overlapping attack down the right was snuffed out when Rhod Smith plucked the looping final pass out of the air before running the ball out of the 22 and kicking it clear into touch in what was the half’s final play.
HALF TIME: Tenby United 0-12 Pontypridd
The second half began frenetically, and Pontypridd won a scrum early on after Tenby knocked the ball on from a cross-field kick. Play switched from one side of the pitch to the other before George Thorrington was put into space down the left, but the attack was snuffed out, but Ponty were playing with a penalty advantage. The ball was kicked into the corner and Joe Buckle was the try scorer from the resulting lineout rolling maul. Jorge Lucey’s second conversion extended the lead to 19-0 after 45 minutes.
Shortly after the restart Jorge Lucey made an excellent break from his own 22 upfield and offloaded, and an early tackle from a Tenby defender saw Pontypridd awarded a penalty. They kicked into the corner but inaccuracy at the lineout saw the chance come and go.
Tenby worked their way into Ponty’s 22 following a good kick from open play. Although Ponty threw the ball in Tenby would win the penalty and the pressure intensified, but strong Pontypridd defence forced a knock-on and from the scrum the Valley Commandos were awarded a penalty.
As the match approached the hour mark Ponty fed into what looked like a solid scrum, but the referee penalised them for not driving straight. Tenby kicked the ball into touch in the corner, and their initial rolling maul drive was held up, but penalty advantage was being played. They went again and this time they weren’t to be denied and second row Alex Jenkins scored from the rolling maul, extras missed.
Pontypridd started the final quarter attacking from deep but their risk taking wasn’t rewarded at first when Rhodri Hext was tackled into touch on their own 10 metre line. A few minutes later the away side tried again and reaped the rewards when some nice handling from Garyn Smith fed his now centre partner Rhys Conquer who went on a superb run from his own 10 metre line deep into Tenby territory. The replacement centre was hauled down, but the ball was spun right and Joe Davies powered his way over the line for his second try of the match. Jaydan Pugh added the extra two points and Ponty’s lead was 26 points to 5.
To their credit the Seasiders kept attacking and were rewarded in the 67th minute when loosehead prop Hywel Baker made a good break and went on an excellent run to finish from the best part of 20 metres.
Tenby’s second try was the end of the scoring, but it wasn’t for the want of trying from Ponty. Into the last ten minutes an overthrown Tenby lineout was gathered by Dylan Kelly and he went on a strong direct run before he was brought down, the team continued to attack but the ball was spilled. There was a scuffle on the floor in which Kristian Parker was being held down on the rock-hard surface. Ponty quickly tapped the penalty, went left and Ben Drew thought he had burrowed over for a try but Ponty were penalised for their work on the floor. The waves of pressure continued from Pontypridd and they pushed for a final try and they thought they had it but after working a great opportunity down the left the final pass to Rhodri Hext went into touch.
The referee blew for full time with the match at Heywood Lane proving to be another very good work out as Ponty continue to build for the competitive league season, and the 4 tries to 2 scoreline was similar to the 5 tries to 2 tries difference when the two teams met in this fixture a year ago.
FULL TIME: Tenby United 10-26 Pontypridd (23/8/2025)
Match report – Geraint Thomas
PONTYPRIDD –
15. Rhodri Smith. 14. Joe Davies. 13. Callum Coxley. 12. Garyn Smith. 11. George Thorrington. 10. Jorge Lucey. 9. Joel Raikes.
1. Ben Stephens. 2. Dylan Kelly. 3. Kian Mattravers. 4. Mitch Barnard. 5. Joe Buckle. 6. Kristian Parker. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles.
Subs: 16. Freddie Rickards. 17. Ben Drew. 18. Dan Cotterell. 19. Niall Moore. 20. Ethan Evans. 21. Lloyd Dennett. 22. Jaydan Pugh. 23. Rhodri Hext. 24. Jude Williams. 25. Iolo Howe. 26. Luc Morrish. 27. Rhys Conquer.
Please note – All substitutes came on to make an appearance apart from Ethan Evans.
Tries: Joe Davies x 2, Joel Raikes, Joe Buckle
Conversions: Jorge Lucey x 2, Jaydan Pugh
Yellow Card: Joe Davies
Red Card: Cally James
TENBY UNITED –
15. Gethin Bradney. 14. Max Brindley. 13. Ben Pugh. 12. Jackson Gravatt. 11. Keanu Williams. 10. Gwion Jones. 9. Dai Jones.
1. Hywel Baker. 2. Joe Poole. 3. Ethan Morgan. 4. Alex Jenkins (c). 5. Luke Dedman. 6. Tom Barrass. 7. Jesse James. 8. Jack Brown.
Subs: 16. Iwan Duffy. 17. Andrew John. 18. Kyle Rossiter. 19. Liam Pugh. 20. Dan Colley. 21. Ben Gibby. 22. Jake Roberts. 23. Fletcher Broadhurst. 24. Liam Price. 25. Archie Treadaway-Williams.
Tries: Alex Jenkins, Hywel Baker
Red Card: Jack Brown
Referee: Tom Carew (Milford Haven)
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