Pontypridd 35-12 Narberth – Match Report
On the second weekend of the Admiral Premiership campaign, it was second versus fifth in the table as Pontypridd hosted Pembrokeshire visitors Narberth on an afternoon of sunshine and heavy showers. Following a hard fought contest it was the home team who took the honours with a deserved bonus point victory by 35pts to 12.
Ponty applied early pressure working off a near monopoly of possession although with both sides finding line-out retention and handling in general to be difficult in the slippery conditions. The home team made the breakthrough as outside half Jorge Lucey put through a delicate kick allowing winger Joe Davies to claim a try, which creator Lucey then converted. Ponty continued to apply unrelenting pressure with back rowers Cally James and Jordan Coxley combining well but a promising attack halted by the referee’s whistle. Having so far been out of contention Narberth launched a snap counter to pose a threat only to be undone by a handling error with Ponty scrummaging solidly to clear. The visitors were coming more and more into contention and after playing a penalty advantage provided a pop-up pass for winger Harry Fuller to slice through for a try, the touchline drop-goal conversion from Jonathan Rodgers wide of the target.
Going into the second quarter Ponty resumed on the offensive with Joe Davies providing a focal point for their efforts only for Narberth again to threaten but thwarted by their own handling and kicking errors. The home team launched a sweeping wide attack, culminating once more in a knock-on, before making the most of a big scrum, followed by a line-out drive and series of shunts, with lock Joe Miles claiming a try which Lucey converted. Ponty’s advantage was immediately increased as another wide attack allowed Joe Davies to tip-toe the touchline from near halfway, arcing under the posts to claim a second try which Lucey again converted. Narberth responded strongly, setting up camp near the home line, and after Joe Davies was sin-binned, making the most of a line-out drive to send hooker Kyle Hamer over for a try with Rodgers adding the extras to register an interval scoreline of 21pts to 12.
HALF TIME: Pontypridd 21-12 Narberth
As Narberth pressed from the restart they were undone as Ponty full back Dale Stuckey intercepted to cruise in a for a try, Jorge Lucey’s conversion being his final contribution before being replaced. The Pembrokeshire side were striving hard to stay in the game but Ponty always able to reclaim possession to counter. The home pack continued to batter the gain line only to be held up in the act of scoring, with Narberth no8 Roy Osborne shown yellow for his indiscretions. Ponty’s favoured tactic of a powerful line-out drive reaped its rewards, the pack continuing to press to the whitewash for hooker Connah Hughes to burrow over from close range, the conversion added by Jaydan Pugh.
A well judged cross kick gave Narberth another opportunity to advance only for the home defence once more to muscle possession and nullify the threat, with replacement outside half Pugh kicking effectively for territory. The general pattern of the game was for Ponty to be awarded penalties, kick for touch, then set up drives to press hard to the visitors’ line. Dominating possession the home team were however unable to fashion another breakthrough as the game drew to a close in stop-start fashion with handling errors blighting the efforts of both teams. Having grafted hard throughout, and seen off the best efforts of their opponents, it was Ponty who claimed a well-earned bonus point victory by 35pts to 12.
FULL TIME: Pontypridd 35-12 Narberth
Match report – Guto Davies (13/9/2025)
PONTYPRIDD:
15.Dale Stuckey. 14.Joe Davies. 13.Iwan Griffith. 12.Garyn Smith. 11.Jude Williams (George Thorrington). 10.Jorge Lucey (Jaydan Pugh). 9.Joel Raikes (Lloyd Dennett).
1.Ben Stephens (Ben Drew). 2.Connah Hughes (Grant Jones). 3.Kian Mattravers (Dan Cotterell). 4.Joe Miles. 5.Kristian Parker (Jordan Coxley). 6.Cai James (Joe Buckle). 7.Cally James (c). 8.Jordan Coxley (Iestyn Harris).
Subs: 16.Grant Jones. 17.Ben Drew. 18.Dan Cotterell. 19.Joe Buckle. 20.Iestyn Harris. 21.Lloyd Dennett. 22.Jaydan Pugh. 23.George Thorrington.
Tries: Joe Davies (6, 32); Joe Miles (30); Dale Stuckey (41); Connah Hughes (55)
Cons: Jorge Lucey (7, 30, 33, 42); Jaydan Pugh (55)
Yellow Card: Joe Davies (35)
NARBERTH:
15.Llew Jones (Ashley Sutton). 14.Harry Fuller. 13.Aled Davies. 12.Harrison Griffiths. 11.Dean James. 10.Jonathan Rodgers (Nico Setaro). 9.Lewis Gibby (Josh Thomas).
1.George Rossiter (Josh Wigglesworth). 2.Kyle Hamer (Jake Bowen). 3.Ryan Rees (Tom Slater). 4.Caleb Salmon. 5.Rhys Williams (Will Blackburn). 6.Will Boyde (Jac Bennett). 7.Tom Powell (c). 8.Roy Osborne.
Subs: 16.Josh Wigglesworth. 17.Jake Bowen. 18.Tom Slater. 19.Jac Bennett. 20.Will Blackburn. 21.Josh Thomas. 22.Nico Setaro. 23.Ashley Sutton.
Tries: Harry Fuller (17); Kyle Hamer (36)
Con: Jonathan Rodgers (37)
Yellow Card: Roy Osborne (53)
Referee: Lucas Yendle AR3: Mark Jones
Golden Bob Man of the Match: Cally James
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