Llanelli Wanderers 31-34 Pontypridd – Match Report

It was a balmy spring day at Stradey Park where a sizeable crowd witnessed an uncompromising battle for supremacy, with visitors Pontypridd ultimately holding out for the narrowest of victories by 31pts to 34.

The tone of the contest was set early on as both teams scrapped for possession in no-man’s land with the home team enjoying a slight territorial advantage. It was Ponty however who broke the deadlock, advancing from a kick and chase foray, setting up a position for hooker Connah Hughes to burrow over from close range, his try converted by Logan Jones. The Wanderers responded emphatically following up on a Jac Hart break to spread the ball wide for centre Josh Batcup to slice through for a try which Nick Gale converted. The visitors once more pounded the gain line and following a line-out drive moved the ball out to the wing where George Thorrington grounded by the corner flag. It was nip and tuck as the Wanderers launched an attack from the base of a scrum, full back Gale claiming a try which he also converted from a wide angle.

Ponty resumed in forward gear as Joe Miles set off on a charge followed by a speculative kick through from Cai James, pressure turned into points as Logan Jones kicked a long range penalty, but that lead short lived as Nick Gale responded in kind with a successful kick of his own. As George Thorrington set off on a dynamic run down the line Ponty set up a promising position but were undone by a costly knock-on. The momentum of the game stalled due to a couple of injury delays before the home team stepped up a gear, initially through a Nick Gale kick and chase, then after a line-out drive sending lock Jake Baker over for a try which Gale converted. Intense home pressure again reaped its rewards as flanker Ben Chiffi powered over for the bonus point try with Gale again adding the extras. It was the Wanderers who were now in the ascendancy, lock Ryan Evans intercepting to stride upfield and winger Lee Watkins evading some despairing tackles, Ponty defending grimly before Jorge Lucey attempted to counter from deep, his side going in at the interval trailing by 31pts to 15.

HALF TIME: Llanelli Wanderers 31-15 Pontypridd

If Ponty were intent on starting the second period strongly they were undone in yielding possession in contact, but then scrummaging strongly to regain momentum. Following another injury delay Ponty again drove upfield with Joe Miles the spearhead, pile driving into the home twenty-two then playing a number of penalty advantages to put replacement Rhodri Smith over, the conversion attempt by Jones rebounding off an upright. With another replacement, Ioan Davies, carrying effectively the visitors remained in forward gear but the scoreboard static as both Jones and Gale in turn were off-target with their penalty attempts. The contest was close fought and feisty, the Wanderers taking the initiative by kicking well for territory then taking a quick tap penalty to pin Ponty back in their own twenty-two.

The Valley Commandos were finally able to advance, Joel Raikes taking a tap penalty to build momentum, followed by a series of concerted drives from which prop Codi Purnell claimed a try which Jones converted. The penalty count was by now rising in Ponty’s favour, their pack mauling hard into home territory, with Wanderers’ defender Jonny George shown yellow for infringing. From the ensuing penalty and line-out drive the visiting pack powered over, prop Cameron Tyler-Grocott claiming a crucial touchdown and Jones again converting. The game was evenly balanced into its last ten minutes, the home team staging a late rally from which Ponty were able to counter, before being pushed back one more into defensive mode during a nail biting climax, but no scores forthcoming as Pontypridd held out to claim a narrow bonus point win by 31pts to 34.

Full Time: Llanelli Wanderers 31-34 Pontypridd

Match Report – Guto Davies (21/3/2026)

LLANELLI WANDERERS:

15.Nick Gale. 14.Jac Hart. 13.Owain Davies. 12.Josh Batcup (c). 11.Lee Watkins. 10.Rhys Harris (Jonny George). 9.Aaron Hemmings (Lewis Jones).

1.Dean Howells (Rhodri Owens). 2.Dion Roberts (Ifan Williams). 3.Gareth Havard (Alex Williams). 4.Jake Baker. 5.Ryan Evans. 6.Ben Chiffi. 7.Sam Icke. 8.Lewys Thomas.

Subs: 16.Ifan Williams. 17.Rhodri Owens. 18.Alex Williams. 19.Steffan Phillips. 20.Dylan Lewis. 21.Sianco Morgan. 22.Lewis Jones. 23.Jonny George.

Tries: Josh Batcup (9); Nick Gale (19); Jake Baker (29); Ben Chiffi (32)

Cons: Nick Gale (9, 20, 30, 33)

Pens: Nick Gale (24)

Yellow Cards:  Jonny George (67)                                                                                                                                                        

PONTYPRIDD:

15.Jorge Lucey. 14.Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 13.Callum Coxley. 12.Garyn Smith (Rhodri Smith). 11.George Thorrington (Lloyd Dennett). 10.Logan Jones. 9.Joel Raikes.

1.Ben Drew (Cameron Tyler-Grocott). 2.Connah Hughes (Louis Tovey). 3.Dan Cotterell (Codi Purnell). 4.Mitch Barnard. 5.Lucca Alexander-White (Iestyn Harris). 6.Lloyd Riley (Ioan Davies). 7.Cai James. 8.Joe Miles (c) (Ben Bora).

Subs: 16.Louis Tovey. 17.Cameron Tyler-Grocott. 18.Codi Purnell. 19.Ioan Davies. 20.Iestyn Harris. 21.Ben Bora. 22.Lloyd Dennett. 23.Rhodri Smith.

Tries: Connah Hughes (6); George Thorrington (15); Rhodri Smith (50); Codi Purnell (64); Cameron Tyler-Grocott (69)

Cons: Logan Jones (7, 64, 69)

Pens: Logan Jones (23)                                                                                                

Referee:  Jack Davies                AR3: Gareth Daniel

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