News Every Day | 30 March 2025, 01:51

Brecon 36-29 Pontypridd – Match Report

Brecon picked up the spoils in the Welsh Premiership clash at Parc de Pugh with a 36-29 win over Pontypridd. Despite five tries for the visitors, a strong opening 50 minutes from the hosts ensured they had a big enough lead to maintain in the final quarter.

The home side enjoyed early possession inside the Ponty 22 before an attack was stopped when a good defensive read from Dale Stuckey ensured a turnover and allowed the visitors to clear.

After a strong carry from second row Callum Bradbury, the Brecon forwards managed to gain front foot ball and were awarded a penalty for a no-arms tackle. They then kicked into to the corner and crossed for their first points of the match as number 8 Logan McIntosh benefitted from a solid rolling-maul drive. Fly-half James Dixon added the conversion.

Ponty had some possession following the restart before Jaydan Pugh’s pass in midfield was intercepted by Brecon scrum-half Lewis Jones who read the pass well and had enough pace to beat Cally James to the tryline. The conversion was missed, but the lead was 12-0 after quarter of an hour.

A first attack for the visitors inside the hosts’ 22 saw an encouraging rolling maul, but it was penalised for obstruction against Ponty by referee Gareth Newman when they tried to peel away close to the tryline.

Pontypridd got their first points on the scoreboard after 26 minutes through wing Joe Davies who beat a couple of defenders to run in for a try as the away side made good advantage of utilising the blindside.

It only took a few minutes for Brecon to restore their twelve point lead when wing Sam Jones exploited an overlap extremely well to score his side’s third try of the first half. James Dixon’s second successful conversion made it 19-7 after half an hour.

With Ponty trailing 19-7 with the interval approaching, they knew a second try was needed if they wanted to get back into the game, and they were the next team to score. After some patient build-up in attack, the Valley Commandos scored through Player-Head Coach Kristian Parker who found himself in the outside centre channel, and was able to beat a defender and ground the ball in the corner.

Brecon were reduced to 14 players after tighthead prop Chris Phillips was offside and picked up the ball off the floor in the build up to the try.

The home side had the final say in the half when fly-half Dixon added a penalty moments before the halftime whistle – his kick went over via the post to give his team a 22-12 lead at the interval.

HALF TIME – Brecon 22-12 Pontypridd

The initial start to the second half was encouraging for Ponty with Joe Miles controlling the restart with his feet before bursting through the Brecon defence to get up to halfway before Ioan Evans’ grubber kick gained more territory.

But it was the hosts who picked up their four-try bonus point five minutes into the second half. It was a maul that got them close to the tryline and it was skipper Alwyn Lee who crashed over. Dixon’s conversion made it 29 points to 12 in Brecon’s favour.

Ponty continued to fight in the contest and picked up their third try of the afternoon when Rob Jones scored off the back of a rolling maul to close the points gap to 12 points.

Pontypridd tried to get the next try which would have put them within striking distance of potentially leading the match, but it was the home side who were the ones that got the next all-important score. Former Ponty prop Chris Phillips crossed for his team’s fifth try in the 67^th minute which just about sealed the contest when he burrowed over from short range. James Dixon’s conversion extended the lead to 36-17.

There was a substantial injury stoppage when Ponty replacement fullback Oli Shepherd sustained a nasty knock which required extensive medical attention. There was only a few minutes left when play restarted and with the game ticking into the final few minutes, Joe Davies picked up his second try of the contest after some neat handling from Floyd-Ellis and Stuckey.

In the match’s final act the visitors crossed for a fifth try through Garyn Smith. Joel Raikes quickly drop-goaled the conversion to speed things up in the hope of a restart but there was no time. Pontypridd had to settle for two bonus-points from the match as they head into next week’s Welsh Cup Final against Cross Keys at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 5th April.

FULL TIME – Brecon 36-29 Pontypridd (29/3/2025)

Match report – Iestyn Thomas

PONTYPRIDD –

15. Dale Stuckey. 14. Joe Davies. 13. Garyn Smith. 12. Ioan Evans. 11. Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 10. Jaydan Pugh (Oli Shepherd, then replaced by Louis Rochefort-Shugar). 9. Lucus Welch (Joel Raikes).

1. Ben Drew (Kian Mattravers). 2. Rob Jones (Jeff Young). 3. Garyn Daniel (Morgan Bosanko). 4. Mitch Barnard (Will Jameson). 5. Kristian Parker. 6. Lloyd Riley. 7. Cally James (c). 8. Joe Miles.

Subs: 16. Jeff Young. 17. Kian Mattravers. 18. Morgan Bosanko. 19. Will Jameson. 20. Ethan Evans. 21. Joel Raikes. 22. Oli Shepherd. 23. Louis Rochefort-Shugar.

Tries: Joe Davies x 2, Kristian Parker, Rob Jones, Garyn Smith

Conversions: Jaydan Pugh, Joel Raikes

BRECON –

15. Jake Newman. 14. Huw Jones. 13. Joel Price. 12. Jack Dixon. 11. Sam Jones. 10. James Dixon. 9. Lewis Jones.

1. Lewis Smout. 2. Aneurin James. 3. Chris Phillips. 4. Alwyn Lee (c). 5. Callum Bradbury. 6. Ioan Edwards. 7. Matthew Williams. 8. Logan McIntosh.

Subs: 16. Owen Ford. 17. Iestyn Phillips. 18. Cameron Cox. 19. Tom Offa. 20. Ed Siggery. 21. Dafydd Edwards. 22. Tom Davies. 23. Sean Horobin.

Tries: Logan McIntosh, Lewis Jones, Sam Jones, Alwyn Lee, Chris Phillips

Conversions: James Dixon x 4

Penalty: James Dixon

Yellow Cards: Chris Phillips, Logan McIntosh

Referee: Gareth Newman

Assistant Referee/Third Official: Rob Mota