BBC SPORT | CELTIC | Ponty brush Bridgend aside

Pontypridd 32-13 Bridgend

Pontypridd kept themselves in contention for a place in next season's Heineken European Cup after a convincing win over visitors Bridgend.

This was another clash where rampant Ponty were on top at all phases in another display of pride and passion.

The home side took the lead after five minutes with a gem of a try from outside half Ceri Sweeney.

Scoring details

Pontypridd (18) 32:
Tries: Davey, Sweeney (2), John.
Cons: Davey (3).
Pens: Davey (2).

Bridgend (3) 13:
Tries: G. Williams, van Rensburg.
Pens: Warlow.

Att: 3,500

The score was made possible thanks to some skilful handling from Sonny Parker and talented youngster Matthew Nuttall.

He hardly put a foot wrong on his debut and richly deserved the man-of-the-match vote awarded to him by his childhood hero Jonathan Davies.

Brett Davey increased Ponty's lead with penalties from 40 and 22 metres as they pilled on the pressure.

Bridgend cut the deficit on a rare visit upfield with a touchline 40-metre kick through outside-half Craig Warlow.

But Parker broke clear again for Ponty after a Jonathan Bryant charge to put Sweeney over under the post. Davey converted to give his side an 18-3 interval advantage.

After the break play was scrappy for some time as both sides battled hard to take control.

Bridgend's Dafydd James beats Duncan Bell

Ponty suffered a blow in the 52nd minute when flanker Richard Parks was sin-binned for a persistent infringement.

But within minutes Sardis Road was set alight when Nuttall broke clear from his own 22 to leave the Bridgend defence helpless.

A number of Ponty hands took the ball further forward, and Nuttall was on hand again to off-load in the tackle to put Paul John over the try line.

In the closing stages Bridgend cut the deficit with a try from hooker Gareth Williams, but Ponty responded quickly with a converted try from Davey.

Shawn van Rensburg a consolation try for Bridgend before the final whistle, but Ponty finished convincing winners.

Pontypridd: B Davey; G Wyatt, S Parker, J Bryant, M Nuttall; C Sweeney, P John (capt); G Jenkins, M Davies, D Bell, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, N Kelly, R Parks, M Owen.
Reps: Demaid, N Little, J Lewis, M Rees, S Cronk, R Field, Harris.

Bridgend: A Durston; R Mustoe, D James, J Devereux, Daniel Jones; C Warlow, H Harries; C Loader, G Williams, J Thiel, Deiniol Jones, N Budgett, R Bryan, M Molitika.
Reps: S van Rensburg, A Griffiths, A Joy, P Clapham, J Hewlett, J Funnell, Carter.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRFU)


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