Neath 26-20 Pontypridd – Match Report

Pontypridd travelled to the Gnoll with the dual motivation of maintaining a 100% record in the league and avenging a cup defeat at the venue earlier in the campaign, but were undone on both counts, going down to a narrow defeat by 26pts to 20.

Neath went close early on, kicking through from an attacking set-piece but scrum half Connor Tantum knocking on with the try-line begging. The home pack were scrummaging strongly to apply pressure, but the contest in wet conditions mostly a dogfight for territory and possession with errors made. Neath instigated a big forward drive only for Ponty to respond from a line-out take, playing through the phases but with no breakthrough made. With the first fifteen minutes scoreless, frustrations gave way to a fracas amongst the two packs with both captains given a talking to by the official. The one constant so far was the home pack’s dominance in both tight and loose, giving them an edge which eventually broke the deadlock as winger Ki Morgan cut through at an angle from thirty metres out, his try converted by Paul Short.

That lead was however short lived, Ponty winger Iwan Griffith going close in the corner, then from a line-out drive, lock Ethan Evans claiming a try which Jorge Lucey converted. As the home side responded their attacks were valiantly held out by the Ponty wall of purple bricks, the game remaining close fought and tense. Ponty played through numerous phases only for Neath to intercept but undone by a handling error. The home forwards again mauled their way into their opponents’ twenty-two then stole line-out ball to maintain momentum with Ki Morgan charging down the tram-lines but Ponty holding out to keep the scores level, 7pts apiece at the interval.

HALF TIME: Neath 7-7 Pontypridd

The Neath pack were again in forward drive as play resumed before Ponty countered from deep, both sides working hard to cancel each other out. The visitors made the most of a penalty advantage whilst pile-driving into their opponents’ twenty-two, Ethan Evans powering over from close range, his final contribution before departing the fray, with Lucey adding the extras. Having gained a precious lead Ponty were lucky to stay ahead as a Dale Stuckey clearance was charged down, his side forced to defend against wave after wave of Neath attacks. Stuckey was next in action launching a high kick and chase counter, his side electing to settle for points on the board as Jorge Lucey slotted a penalty between the posts. Just as Pontypridd seemed to be gaining in confidence Neath instigated an opportunist foray wide out ending in a scramble over the try-line from which centre Sam Harris claimed a touchdown.

The game remained balanced on a knife edge into its final quarter, interrupted by injury delays before the hosts crucially struck again from a powerful forward drive with no8 Ben Williams claiming a try which Paul Short converted. The momentum swung to and fro, Ponty advancing from a line-out drive only for Neath to intercept and kick long to apply pressure in opposition territory, with Dale Stuckey then launching a dynamic counter from deep. It was the home pack that once more rose to the challenge, mauling and then powering on from a line-out drive, persuading referee Keith David to award a penalty try and to show the obligatory yellow card to Ponty back rower Iestyn Harris. Now two scores behind Ponty were chasing the game into its final five minutes but gained vital momentum from a quick tap penalty taken by scrum half Joel Raikes, electing to put points on the board courtesy of another Jorge Lucey penalty. The afternoon ended in confusion and controversy, Pontypridd relying on the briefest of opportunities to score again but the referee immediately blowing for full time. So it was that Neath clung on to a hard fought 26pts to 20 victory with Ponty having to settle for only a losing bonus point.

FULL TIME: Neath 26-20 Pontypridd

Match Report – Guto Davies (1/11/2025)

NEATH:

15.Owen Erasmus (Iestyn Morgan). 14.Morgan Maclem. 13.Jon Bayliss. 12.Sam Harris. 11.Ki Morgan. 10.Paul Short. 9.Connor Tantum (Jacob Daniel).

1.Mason Morgan (Owain Watts). 2.Sion Jones (Kian Jones). 3.Marley Lovell (Tarik Dabeh). 4.Jon Barley (Josh Hughes). 5.Matthew Davies. 6.Jacob Blackmore (Casey Williams). 7.Gethin Tremlett. 8.Ben Williams (c).

Subs: 16.Kian Jones. 17.Owain Watts. 18.Tarik Dabeh. 19.Josh Hughes. 20.Casey Williams. 21.Jacob Daniel. 22.Iestyn Morgan. 23.Sam Morgan.

Tries: Ki Morgan (18); Sam Harris (58); Ben Williams (62); Penalty (75)

Cons: Paul Short (19, 63)                                                                                               

PONTYPRIDD:

15.Dale Stuckey. 14.George Thorrington. 13.Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12.Garyn Smith. 11.Iwan Griffith. 10.Jorge Lucey. 9.Joel Raikes.

1.Ben Stephens. 2.Connah Hughes (Dylan Kelly). 3.Kian Mattravers. 4.Mitch Barnard (Joe Buckle). 5.Ethan Evans (Lloyd Riley). 6.Cai James. 7.Cally James (c). 8.Iestyn Harris.

Subs: 16.Dylan Kelly. 17.Dan Cotterell. 18.Luc Chadwick-Morrish. 19.Joe Buckle. 20.Lloyd Riley. 21.Lloyd Dennett. 22.Jaydan Pugh. 23.Joe Blackburn.

Tries: Ethan Evans (22, 46)

Cons: Jorge Lucey (23, 47)

Pens: Jorge Lucey (54, 78)

Yellow Cards: Iestyn Harris (75)                                                                                                                                                   

Referee:  Keith David           AR3:  Gareth Daniel

 

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