Pontypridd 26-19 Cross Keys – Match Report

Table toppers Pontypridd were on a mission to maintain their 100% record in the league, and did so with a hard-fought 26pts 19 victory over Gwent visitors Cross Keys, who proved to be resilient opponents throughout.

Ponty enjoyed a glut of early possession, attempting to generate momentum along their back line but failing to threaten their opponents’ twenty-two. Awarded penalties, the home team were kicking to touch and launching line-out drives, finally reaping their reward from one such move, with the backs joining in, hooker Connah Hughes claiming a try which was well converted by Jaydan Pugh. The lead was however short lived as the Keys took full advantage of a dislodged ball, centre Aaron Arthur pouncing for an opportunist try which went unconverted. The Ponty pack were winning penalty awards then driving from the ensuing line-outs but failing to reach the whitewash. Intense pressure finally told as the ball was whipped out following a series of forward shunts, winger Joe Davies claiming a try which Pugh converted from near the touchline, Keys flanker Max Heathman in the meantime being yellow carded.

The game was keenly contested, both sides battling for turnovers to counter, the visitors enjoying an extended period of pressure but the Valley Commandos holding firm in defence. Such was the nature of the encounter, pretty much at a stalemate as it reached the half hour mark. The Keys played a knock-on advantage to gain ground but again to no avail, before Ponty instigated a dynamic attack off a line-out platform, Joe Miles charging towards the line but held up short, his side settling for an interval lead of 14pts to 5.

HALF TIME: Pontypridd 14-5 Cross Keys

Ponty were first to strike after the restart, stealing line-out ball to kick for territory, then playing through the phases setting up a position for replacement Jordan Coxley to power over with Pugh converting from in front of the posts. The Keys were again able to strike back immediately, winger Elliott Keep going on the rampage and providing a scoring pass to full back Ralph Miller, with Lewis Stevens adding the extras. The game was still blighted by handling errors, mis-throws and injury delays but with Ponty maintaining a territorial advantage, more often than not to the tune of the referee’s whistle during a stop-start period of play. Ponty launched a wide foray with Dale Stuckey injecting some much needed pace into proceedings but any momentum gained soon petering out. The home pack were scrummaging strongly, edging a close-fought contest going into its final quarter.

Ponty again attempted to pick up the pace in attack only for the Keys to counter with a Laurence Donnelly break. Wrestling turnovers, winning penalty awards and driving hard at the gain line, Ponty were camped near their opponents’ line, who had flanker Alfy Johnson sin-binned for his indiscretions. A huge amount of home pressure was coming to nothing, centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis forging a half break followed by another line-out drive but all undone by a costly knock-on. The Ponty breakthrough finally came as Joe Davies set off on a mazy run, the ball recycled through the phases and Davies rounding off with a try from close range to earn a valuable bonus point. The last word went to a fully committed Cross Keys side, applying late pressure which saw Ponty flanker Cally James sin-binned, then from a huge cross kick, Ralph Miller crossing in the corner for a consolation try, and a losing bonus point, which was converted by Stevens. A feisty encounter, sometimes scrappy, often frustrating but always full-on, thus ended with another Pontypridd win, by 26pts to 19.

FULL TIME: Pontypridd 26-19 Cross Keys

Match Report – Guto Davies (18/10/2025)

PONTYPRIDD:

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

1.Ben Stephens (Dan Cotterell). 2.Connah Hughes (Louis Tovey). 3.Kian Mattravers (Garyn Daniel). 4.Mitch Barnard. 5.Joe Miles (Lloyd Riley). 6.Cai James. 7.Cally James (c). 8.Iestyn Harris (Jordan Coxley).

Subs: 16.Louis Tovey. 17.Dan Cotterell. 18.Garyn Daniel. 19.Lloyd Riley. 20.Jordan Coxley. 21.Lloyd Dennett. 22.Jorge Lucey. 23.Jude Williams.

Tries: Connah Hughes (9); Joe Davies (20, 73); Jordan Coxley (43)

Cons: Jaydan Pugh (10, 21, 43)

Yellow Card: Cally James (77)                                                                                                

CROSS KEYS:

15.Ralph Miller. 14.Laurence Donnelly. 13.Aaron Arthur (Lewis Stevens). 12.Duan Thomas (c). 11.Elliott Keep. 10.Rhys Jones (Morgan Cusack). 9.Lewis Stevens (Elliott Martin-Drew).

1.Taylor Pescud (Jake Wisniewski). 2.Nathan Huish (Dafydd Jones). 3.Tom Burnham (Richie Cornock). 4.Kiaran Lewis (Luke Daniel). 5.Charlie Barrett (Chris Johnsey). 6.Alfy Johnson. 7.Max Heathman (Scott Davies). 8.Will Morgan.

Subs: 16.Dafydd Jones. 17.Jake Wisniewski. 18.Richie Cornock. 19.Chris Johnsy. 20.Scott Davies. 21.Elliott Martin-Drew. 22.Morgan Cusack. 23.Luke Daniel.

Tries: Aaron Arthur (11); Ralph Miller (45, 79)

Cons: Lewis Stevens 46, 80)

Yellow Cards:  Max Heathman (20); Alfy Johnson (68)                                                                                                                                                              

Referee: Aaron Parry                          AR3: Chris Lewis

Golden Bob Man of the Match: Cai James

 

The post Pontypridd 26-19 Cross Keys – Match Report appeared first on Pontypridd-RFC.