Pontypridd 17-10 Cardiff Met – Match Report
Pontypridd returned to competitive action following a month’s lay-off and did so with a hard fought victory over the visiting students following a largely frustrating encounter.
The game got underway in a heavy downpour, which was to have a significant effect over the ensuing eighty minutes, with Cardiff Met enjoying early possession to encroach into the home twenty-two but thwarted by handling errors. Ponty in turn were valiant in their attempts to keep the ball alive and play through the phases but it took until the tenth minute for them to break the deadlock, hooker Louis Tovey the beneficiary from a line out drive, claiming a try which Jorge Lucey duly converted. Cardiff Met’s response was almost immediate, winger Tom Weekley latching on to a cross kick to claim an opportunist try which provider Ross McKay then converted. The home team continued to strive for momentum through a foray spearheaded by centre Garyn Smith and winger Joe Davies then taking a quick tap penalty to set off on a barnstorming run from deep but to no avail. The Ponty pack were showing up well in the set pieces, allowing the back row to batter the gain line and set up an opportunity to go close in the corner.
Frustrations were mounting as the weather and injury delays blighted the flow of play, the one prevailing factor being the home pack’s dominance in the scrums, but with the students always able to threaten on the counter. Joe Davies again set off on a barging run only to have the ball dislodged from his grasp and the Met counter attack itself ending with a knock-on, summing up the state of play. A bout of fisticuffs between the two sides brought the first period to an end with the scores level at 7pts apiece.
HALF TIME: Pontypridd 7-7 Cardiff Met
Two knock-ons in succession from both sides hinted at things to come as play resumed, but Ponty again striving hard to build up momentum, and after Met prop Harri Thomas had been sin-binned, the home pack driving hard over the whitewash for prop Garyn Daniel to claim the touchdown. Ponty were just edging the dogfight for possession, laying siege to their opponents’ line and eventually turning pressure into points as no8 Joe Miles powered over from close range, the try again going unconverted. The rain now held off for some time but the contest still being bogged down despite Ponty’s endeavours to play through the phases and move the ball wide. The visitors then attempted to work their way back into contention only for Ponty to wrestle a turnover to counter.
The students continued to apply pressure but were held up short, the contest going into its final ten minutes still stuttering rather than flowing due to handling and kicking errors added to extended injury delays. The scoreboard sprang momentarily to life as Ross McKay struck over a penalty for Cardiff Met, with Ponty responding by advancing with intent off a strong scrum platform, pile-driving into the visitors’ twenty-two. All of the home side’s attempts to claim a bonus point try were however thwarted, a last gasp foray to the corner led by back rower Iestyn Harris again undone by a knock-on. In the encroaching gloom and the swirling rain, the contest came to an end with Ponty posting a 17pts to 10 victory, earned in equal measure by merit and hard graft.
FULL TIME: Pontypridd 17-10 Cardiff Met
Match Report – Guto Davies (6/12/2025)
PONTYPRIDD:
15.Charlie Hancock. 14.Joe Davies. 13.Jack Davies. 12.Garyn Smith (Joel Raikes). 11.George Thorrington (Stuart Floyd-Ellis). 10.Jorge Lucey (Jaydan Pugh). 9.Joel Raikes (Joey Williams).
1.Ben Drew (Dan Cotterell). 2.Louis Tovey (Connah Hughes). 3.Garyn Daniel (Kian Mattravers). 4.Mitch Barnard (Jordan Coxley). 5.Kristian Parker (Iestyn Harris). 6.Cai James. 7.Cally James (c). 8.Joe Miles.
Subs: 16.Connah Hughes. 17.Dan Cotterell. 18.Kian Mattravers. 19.Jordan Coxley. 20.Iestyn Harris. 21.Joey Williams. 22.Jaydan Pugh. 23.Stuart Floyd-Ellis.
Tries: Louis Tovey (10); Garyn Daniel (44); Joe Miles (50)
Con: Jorge Lucey (11)
CARDIFF MET:
15.Will Phillips (Matt Bonds). 14.Ryan Williams. 13.Wyatt McLoughlin. 12.Adam Whalley (Gethyn Hunter). 11.Tom Weekley. 10.Ross McKay. 9.Archie Lloyd (Iwan Hughes).
1.Dylan Barratt (Harri Thomas). 2.Harry Beasley (Taylor Coles). 3.Liam Newstead (Sion Hill). 4.Ryan Cozens. 5.Gabriel Cahsay. 6.Sam Bryan (c) (Alfie Blackett). 7.Eldon Craven. 8.Sam Gardner (Nick Murphy).
Subs: 16.Taylor Coles. 17.Harri Thomas. 18.Sion Hill. 19.Alfie Blackett. 20.Nick Murphy. 21.Iwan Hughes. 22.Matt Bonds. 23.Gethyn Hunter.
Try: Tom Weekley (12)
Con: Ross McKay (12)
Pen: Ross McKay (73)
Yellow Card: Harri Thomas (43)
Referee: Jack Davies AR3: Tony Davies
Golden Bob Man of the Match: Garyn Daniel
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