Brecon 17-34 Pontypridd – Match Report

Ponty’s league campaign got underway in the rural surroundings of Parc de Pugh, and following a proverbial ‘game of two halves’, ended in a morale-boosting bonus point victory for the Valley Commandos by 17pts to 34.

The visitors were guilty of putting themselves under pressure early on, committing handling errors and conceding turnovers in defence, but reliant on a strong scrum and line-out to clear their lines. Enjoying territorial advantage, Brecon had an opportunity to pull ahead, but a Jake Newman penalty attempt off target, the first ten minutes remaining scoreless. Earning numerous penalty awards, Brecon were kicking to touch to maintain pressure, Ponty grafting hard in defence but making use of a strong line-out drive to advance upfield, only to again yield possession in contact.

The penalty count was by now rising against the home team, Ponty taking full advantage with a wide attack rounded off with a try in the corner claimed by winger Jude Williams. Brecon had an opportunity to strike back immediately but another Newman penalty drifting wide of the mark. The game remained a tense affair, both sides enjoying periods of possession but cancelling each other out, with play then stagnating into a series of re-set scrums.

Brecon finally fashioned a breakthrough as outside half Newman finished off a wide attack, arcing in for a try which he also converted. It was the line-out drive that gave Ponty momentum to attack, the ball shipped wide for full back Oli Shepherd to slice through for a try, converted by outside half Jorge Lucey. The last kick of a somewhat frustrating first half levelled the scores, 10pts apiece, as Newman kicked a penalty for the home team.

HALF TIME: Brecon 10-10 Pontypridd

Brecon got the better of a scrappy opening to the second period, but Jake Newman off target with another penalty attempt. Ponty were working off a strong scrum platform, striving hard to generate momentum, outside half Lucey instigating a half-break but the move undone by another handling error. Centre Garyn Smith and replacement Dale Stuckey were now spearheading the visitors’ attacks, taking them into the home twenty-two. Pressure finally told following a big forward drive with hooker Connah Hughes the beneficiary in claiming a try which was well converted by Lucey. The Smith-Stuckey combo again allowed Ponty to cut loose and after the home defence had messed up a clearance kick, hooker Hughes rounding off another line-out drive with a close-range try.

Stealing opposition line-out ball, Ponty remained in the ascendancy with Brecon lock Chad Hughes dispatched to the sin-bin for his over-zealous defending. The favoured ploy of the line-out drive once more reaped its benefits for Ponty, Connah Hughes the trailer behind a powerful truck to claim his hat-trick try, this time converted from a closer angle by Jorge Lucey. The Valley Commandos were visibly moving up the gears going into the final quarter, winger Iwan Griffith going close in the corner and play then called back as Garyn Smith cut through with the try-line in his sights. Pressure again told from yet another Ponty line-out drive as Connah Hughes grounded over the whitewash. Having been under the cosh, Brecon finally generated a response and were awarded a penalty try after being camped near their opponents’ line, with Ponty flanker Cally James and winger Iwan Griffiths both shown yellow. Despite being two men down Ponty continued to advance with both Dale Stuckey and the impressive Cai James going close late on, but with no improvement to the visitors’ winning scoreline of 17pts to 34.

FULL TIME: Brecon 17-34 Pontypridd (6/9/2025)

Match report – Guto Davies

BRECON:

15.Llewelyn Brown. 14.Ben Griffin (Peter Richmond). 13.Tom Richards. 12.Joel Price. 11.Kyran Dillan (Huw Jones). 10.Jake Newman (c). 9.Geraint Workman (Sean Horobin).

1.Iestyn Phillips (Caleb Dunn). 2.Liam Lewis (Joe Lyons). 3.Chris Phillips (Henry Hibbs). 4.Kieran Parry. 5.Chad Thomas (Zac Gerrish). 6.Ioan Edwards. 7.Matthew Williams. 8.Luke Evans (Joe Liddiatt).

Subs: 16.Joe Lyons. 17.Joe Liddiatt. 18.Henry Hibbs. 19.Zac Gerrish. 20.Caleb Dunn. 21.Sean Horobin. 22.Peter Richmond. 23.Huw Jones.

Tries: Jake Newman (32); Penalty (75)

Con: Jake Newman (33)

Pen: Jake Newman (40+1)

Yellow Card: Chad Thomas (56)                                                  

PONTYPRIDD:

15.Oli Shepherd (Dale Stuckey). 14.Jude Williams. 13.Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12.Garyn Smith. 11.Iwan Griffith. 10.Jorge Lucey (Jaydan Pugh). 9.Joel Raikes (Lloyd Dennett).

1.Ben Drew (Tom Fry). 2.Connah Hughes (Dylan Kelly / Connah Hughes). 3.Kian Mattravers (Dan Cotterell). 4.Joe Miles (Ethan Evans). 5.Kristian Parker. 6.Iestyn Harris. 7.Cally James (c). 8.Jordan Coxley (Cai James).

Subs: 16.Dylan Kelly. 17.Tom Fry. 18.Dan Cotterell. 19.Ethan Evans. 20.Cai James. 21.Lloyd Dennett. 22.Jaydan Pugh. 23.Dale Stuckey.

Tries: Jude Williams (20); Oli Shepherd (37); Connah Hughes (48, 53, 58, 71)

Cons: Jorge Lucey (50, 58)

Yellow Cards: Cally James & Iwan Griffith (75)                                                

Referee:  Matthew Leon           AR3: Stuart Vaudin

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