Pontypridd 36-20 Ystrad Rhondda – Match Report

Third placed Pontypridd hosted fifth placed Ystrad Rhondda in a festive derby which proved to be a full blooded encounter, from which the home team emerged as victors by 36pts to 20, but only after an almighty battle for supremacy.

The home team enjoyed a wealth of early possession only for Ystrad to intercept and counter, and after Ponty were penalised in the scrum, the visitors taking the lead through a Jacob Symes penalty. The contest was feisty rather than festive from the off with both captains having been given a talking to, Ponty then playing a penalty advantage but knocking on with the try line in sight. The home team were persistent in attack, pile driving into their opponents’ twenty-two with Joe Miles crossing the whitewash but the score not given. Ystrad then launched a snap offensive from scrum possession to keep up the tempo of the game and eventually turned pressure into points as hooker Corben Evans claimed a try from an ensuing line-out drive.

Reflecting the competitive edge that was prevalent a fracas broke out with the referee again issuing a lecture. The Rhondda visitors were now gaining in confidence but held up just short from another line-out drive. Ponty in turn engineered a big maul and a series of shunts but were unable to threaten a score, with Ystrad again countering and maintaining pressure by charging down a clearance kick. Just on the break Ponty finally made an impression on the scoreboard, outside half Jorge Lucey kicking through and gathering the fortuitous bounce to claim a try which he duly converted from in front of the posts, registering an interval scoreline of 7pts to 8.

HALF TIME: Pontypridd 7-8 Ystrad Rhondda

From the restart Ponty committed a costly handling error which allowed Ystrad to counter, winger Kurtis Williams winning a footrace wide out to claim an opportunist try which was converted by Symes. The contest was fast and furious but with a physical edge, both sides enjoying periods of attack before Ponty struck decisively as scrum half Lloyd Dennett forged a half break and fed a scoring pass to Jorge Lucey who again converted his own score. The home team were striving to move up a gear by bringing players on to the ball with flanker Cai James a prominent carrier, but unable to threaten a score. Ystrad then launched a snap offensive spearheaded by Cavan Davies and finished off in the corner by long striding full back Alex Webber. Points were at a premium as Ponty elected to take a penalty kick at goal, which Lucey struck between the posts to narrow his side’s deficit to three points.

Ponty then conceded a penalty and were marched back ten metres for dissent to yield the initiative but regained momentum from a Dale Stuckey kick and chase taking play right back up into the visitors’ twenty-two. The home team were winning penalty awards, electing for line-outs and scrums and were finally able to turn pressure into points as flanker Cally James crossed from close range, his try converted by Lucey to edge Ponty into the lead for the first time in the game. Tempers again boiled over following a pole-axe tackle by Ystrad flanker Jarrad Llewellyn, for which was shown a red card. Ponty now pressed hard for a decisive score and following a series of shunts, popped the ball out for Joe Miles to claim the bonus point try in the corner. The home team were finishing the game strongly, keeping play up in their opponents’ half and scoring again from the last play of the afternoon as Jorge Lucey sniped over for his hat-trick try, his conversion sealing a hard fought victory by 36pts to 20.

FULL TIME: Pontypridd 36-20 Ystrad Rhondda

Match Report – Guto Davies (20/12/2025)

PONTYPRIDD:

15.Dale Stuckey. 14.Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 13.Jack Davies (Calum Coxley). 12.Garyn Smith. 11.Iwan Griffith (Rhodri Smith). 10.Jorge Lucey. 9.Lloyd Dennett (Joey Williams).

1.Ben Stephens (Ben Drew). 2.Louis Tovey (Connah Hughes). 3.Garyn Daniel (Kian Mattravers). 4.Mitch Barnard (Alfie John). 5.Kristian Parker (Jordan Coxley). 6.Cai James. 7.Cally James (c). 8.Joe Miles.

Subs: 16.Connah Hughes. 17.Ben Drew. 18.Kian Mattravers. 19.Alfie John. 20.Jordan Coxley. 21.Joey Williams. 22.Rhodri Smith. 23.Calum Coxley.

Tries: Jorge Lucey (40, 47, 79); Cally James (64); Joe Miles (71)

Cons: Jorge Lucey (40, 47, 64,80)

Pens: Jorge Lucey (54)                                                                                                                                                

YSTRAD RHONDDA:

15.Alex Webber (Josh Williams). 14.Kurtis Williams. 13.Logan Hutchings. 12.Cole Morgan. 11.Cavan Davies. 10.Jacob Symes (Ryan Evans). 9.Keian Richards (Callum Phillips).

1.Tom Stacey (Leon Moore). 2.Corben Evans (Liam Wiggins). 3.Nathan English (David Webb). 4.Mason Roderick (Carwyn Owen). 5.Cole Parry. 6.Kian Carter. 7.Jarrad Llewellyn (c). 8.Kelly Jones.

Subs: 16.Liam Wiggins. 17.Leon Moore. 18.David Webb. 19.Ollie Dowler. 20.Carwyn Owen. 21.Callum Phillips. 22.Ryan Evans. 23.Josh Williams

Tries: Corben Evans (17); Kurtis Williams (41); Alex Webber (51)

Con:  Jacob Symes (42)

Pen: Jacob Symes (7)

Red Card: Jarrad Llewellyn (69)                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Referee: Aaron Parry                         AR3: Lee Parry

Golden Bob Man of the Match: Jorge Lucey

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