Bridgend 16 Pontypridd 12

It was evident from the start that this game would be a full blooded contest, both teams well up for the physical challenges that awaited them. There were fine handling skills on show despite the freezing conditions, with the ball kept in play for long periods of time. The Ponty defenders showed a good appetite for the big hit tackles, facing up to the adventurous running play of the home team. Bridgend outside half Gareth David was unlucky to see a long range penalty attempt rebound off the crossbar, the game remaining scoreless coming up to the end of its first quarter.

A huge up and under from home scrum half Nick Griffiths was followed up by a kick and chase, setting Bridgend up for a concerted period of pressure. The Ravens kept pressing onwards with a series of close range charges, the final thrust seeing prop Phil Booth burrowing over for a try, the score converted by Gareth David. Ponty immediately responded with a penalty kicked by outside half Dai Flanagan, but were then forced into retreat as a kick by scrum half Gareth Jones was charged down, Bridgend winger Grant Epton going close to scoring in the corner. A strong run by full back Anthony Carter kept the home team in forward gear, and rewarded with a penalty successfully converted by David.

A long delay followed due to an injury to Bridgend hooker Andrew Joy, who was stretchered off. A drop goal attempt from Dai Flanagan just clipped the post, but the Ponty outside half making amends with a penalty kick on target to register points on the board. Ponty were now playing effectively through many phases, camped in the home twenty-two and eventually rewarded as Flanagan slotted over another penalty from in front of the posts. A high tempo first half was rounded off with a penalty kicked for the home team by Gareth David, registering an interval scoreline of 13 pts to 9.

The second half got under way with a spate of attack and counter attack, both teams once more engaging one another with vigour. Ponty lock Chris Martenko was harshly sin binned for lying off side at a ruck, but the visitors punching away at the midfield gain line through the strong running of centres Lockyear and Stoddart. The game was now fast and loose, a series of turn overs instigating counter attacks at pace, with both packs fiercely contesting possession on the ground. Dai Flanagan fell short with a penalty attempt for Ponty from forty metres out, before Chris Clayton was replaced by Darren Berry. The visitors were evidently intent on putting together some fluent back line moves, but guilty of throwing away possession cheaply in contact.

Bridgend in turn launched a concerted period of pressure, relentlessly pounding into their opponents’ twenty-two, and allowing Gareth David to stroke over another successful penalty. Following a substitution for Ponty, with Danny Hodge on in place of Wayne O’Connor, Dai Flanagan kept his team in contention with a penalty attempt of his own, accurately converted. Further substitutions saw Geraint Liddon on for Stuart Williams and Carl Thomas for Gareth Jones, before Ravens prop Phil Booth was yellow carded. Ponty’s attempts to seize the advantage were foiled as Flanagan fell short with a penalty attempt, now approaching the final ten minutes of the game.

Ponty remained full of attacking intent in their efforts to salvage a result, but just failing to cut loose, the encounter still a frenetic affair with both teams in each others faces to the end. A storming run by flanker Fitzgerald sent Bridgend on the offensive, penetrating deeply into the visitors’ twenty-two. The home team now piled on a huge amount of pressure late on, the Ponty defenders bravely holding their line intact. The final whistle secured a fourteenth successive victory for Bridgend, but with Ponty consigned to defeat by 16 pts to 12 despite their game efforts.

Pontypridd:

15.Jason Pocock. 14.Chris Clayton (Darren Berry). 13.Morgan Stoddart. 12.Dafydd Lockyear. 11.Richard Fussell. 10.Dai Flanagan. 9.Gareth Jones (Carl Thomas).

1.Stuart Williams (Geraint Liddon). 2.Ben Phillips. 3.Ryan Harford. 4.Dale McIntosh – cpt. 5.Chris Martenko. 6.Wayne O’Connor (Danny Hodge). 7.Rhys Shellard. 8.Dan Godfrey.

Tony Poole – The Western Mail

BRIDGEND recorded an 11th consecutive victory in the Welsh Premiership last night to move into fourth place, writes Tony Poole.

This formed a 30th league meeting between the old Celtic Warriors partners - dating back to 1990 - and it yielded only a seventh success for the Brewery Field side.

Fly-half Gareth David had twice failed with penalties - one striking the crossbar - before Bridgend took an 18th-minute lead.

With advantage being played, prop Phil Booth (pictured below) crashed over for a close-range try with outside-half David converting.

Two minutes later Ponty opened their account on the back of a Dai Flanagan penalty, but that was cancelled out by a similar David effort.

Play was held up for an extended period while Bridgend hooker Andrew Joy received attention to an ankle injury, and Ponty fly-half Flanagan then slotted over two more penalties.

But right on half-time fly-half David landed another penalty, and the Ravens led 13-9 at the interlude.

Ponty had lock Chris Martenko yellow carded in the 46th minute - without Bridgend taking advantage - and the score remained undisturbed going into the final quarter.

Fly-halves David and Flanagan then traded penalties, and it was the turn of Bridgend to go down to 14 men in the 68th minute with the sin-binning of prop Booth. However, Bridgend finished the stronger side, and deserved to complete a league double over the Sardis Road side.

Bridgend		(13)16-12(9)		Pontypridd	FT
Tries: Booth
Cons: David
Pens: David 3				Pens: Flanagan 4

Welsh Premiership March 02, 2005
		P	W	D	L	PTS
1	Neath	21	18	0	3	54
2	Newport	23	17	0	6	48
3	Llanelli	24	16	0	8	48
4	Bridgend	24	17	0	7	48
5	Cross Keys	23	15	0	8	45
6	Swansea	23	13	2	8	41
7	Pontypridd	24	12	1	11	37
8	Carmarthen	21	12	1	8	37
9	Aberavon	20	11	0	9	33
10	Cardiff	21	10	0	11	30
11	Ebbw Vale	23	11	0	12	30
12	Pontypool	24	9	1	14	28
13	Bedwas	23	9	0	14	27
14	Llandovery	22	7	0	15	21
15	Caerphilly	24	5	0	19	15
16	Llanharan	23	3	1	19	10
17	Newbridge	21	4	0	17	9