Beddau 29-21 Pontypridd – Match Report
A must win top of the table clash, a local derby to boot played out in front of a vociferous capacity crowd – all that was in the mix as Pontypridd travelled to face Beddau. The match of the day lived up to expectations in terms of its intensity, a hard fought contest on which Beddau turned the screw to claim a deserved bonus point victory by 29pts to 21.
Earning a penalty award from kick-off, Beddau kicked for territory then set up a series of drives, winger James Davies squeezing in for an early try by the corner flag. The home team kept a grip on possession and aimed their penalties to touch, with a beleaguered Pontypridd spending the first ten minutes pinned back mostly in their own twenty-two. Beddau won another penalty decision from a strong scrum, setting up a line-out drive which lumbered over the whitewash with hooker Ethan Coombes claiming the touchdown, the conversion added from a wide angle by Ollie Wilde. Ponty were finally able to edge upfield but a promising wide attack thwarted by an interception. Ethan Coombes then latched on to a loose line-out ball enabling Beddau once more to advance, tempers threatening to boil over in an off the ball fracas. The visitors regrouped to break their deadlock as winger Joe Davies chased a kick through to out-pace the cover defence and ground under the posts, the try goaled by Logan Jones.
Having shown a glimpse of their capabilities Ponty then knocked on from a scrum take and failed to deal with an opposition kick, inviting unwanted pressure upon themselves and back tracking deep into their own half. The home pack maintained a squeeze in the scrums to eventually lay siege to the visitors’ line, prop Sam Bixby at the back end of a line-out drive to claim another try. Gaining some welcome relief from their defensive duties Ponty probed into home territory and settled for a Logan Jones penalty to put points on the board. The visitors continued to play patiently through the phases but were time and again held up on the try line by a resolute Beddau defence before again electing to kick for goal, Logan Jones converting from in front of the posts. A Joe Davies charge tested the home defence, Ponty then foraging for a turnover and setting up a position for Jones once more to aim for the posts, this time from a longer distance but with the same success, narrowing his side’s interval deficit to just one point – 17pts to 16.
HALF TIME: Beddau 17-16 Pontypridd
Ponty were playing down the ‘Beddau Hill’ in the second period and set about taking the game to their opponents, kicking for territory but Beddau scrummaging strongly to clear. Through a succession of penalty awards and line-out takes Ponty remained in the ascendancy only for home full back Cody Baker to gather a high ball and counter at pace. Beddau continued to advance and from the favoured ploy of a line-out drive prop Sam Bixby peeled off to claim his second try of the afternoon. Ponty responded by playing through the phases plying into their opponents’ twenty-two with winger Stuart Floyd-Ellis going close in the corner. Beddau however regained the initiative as Ponty were guilty of handling errors and misplaced kicks, the game going into its final quarter a real dogfight for supremacy.
The home team showed their resilience, keeping the ball in hand and setting up camp in the visitors’ twenty-two, their persistence finally rewarded as replacement Leon Rogers sliced through for a try which Wilde converted. Ponty’s repost was immediate as flanker Iestyn Harris forged a half break, hooker Louis Tovey up in support to charge over, with Jones’ conversion attempt just wide of the target. If the game seemed to be in the balance, Beddau thought otherwise and set about putting a stranglehold on proceedings going into the final ten minutes. Ponty attempted to break free but conceded a crucial turnover then a penalty in contact, the pendulum having swung in the home team’s favour as tensions simmered with a set-to between the two packs and both captains lectured by the referee. Beddau were earning penalty awards and again launched a big drive towards their opponents’ line before Ponty set off on a last gasp counter in search of a losing bonus point with Joe Davies leading a kick and chase to go close in the corner but the Beddau defence holding their nerve to close the game down and nail the all important win by 29pts to 21.
FULL TIME: Beddau 29-21 Pontypridd
Match Report – Guto Davies (25/4/2026)
BEDDAU:
15.Cody Baker. 14.Ewan Roberts. 13.Tyler Wells (Sam Edwards). 12.Adam Ashford. 11.James Davies (Bailey Roberts). 10.Ollie Wilde. 9.Callaghan Smith (Taine Davies).
1.Sam Bixby (Lloyd James). 2.Ethan Coombes (Joe Page). 3.Chris Phillips (Gwilym Powell). 4.Danny Perry (Leon Rogers). 5.Lloyd Evans (c). 6.Sam Tiley. 7.Sam Gibson. 8.Ellis Evans (Hemi Barnes).
Subs: 16.Joe Page. 17.Lloyd James. 18.Gwilym Powell. 19.Hemi Barnes. 20.Leon Rogers. 21.Taine Davies. 22.Bailey Roberts. 23.Sam Edwards.
Tries: James Davies (2); Ethan Coombes (11); Sam Bixby (28, 51); Leon Rogers (64)
Cons: Ollie Wilde (12, 64)
PONTYPRIDD:
15.Jorge Lucey (Rhodri Smith). 14.Joe Davies. 13.Aaron Bramwell. 12.Tommy Morgan. 11.Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 10.Logan Jones. 9.Joel Raikes (Lloyd Dennett).
1.Ben Stephens (Ben Drew). 2.Louis Tovey (Connah Hughes). 3.Cameron Tyler-Grocott (Kian Mattravers). 4.Mitch Barnard (Jordan Coxley). 5.Joe Miles (c) (Ben Bora). 6.Iestyn Harris (Lucca Alexander-White). 7.Cai James. 8.Ioan Davies.
Subs: 16.Connah Hughes. 17.Ben Drew. 18.Kian Mattravers. 19.Lucca Alexander-White. 20.Jordan Coxley. 21.Lloyd Dennett. 22.Rhodri Smith. 23.Ben Bora.
Tries: Joe Davies (17); Louis Tovey (66)
Cons: Logan Jones (18)
Pens: Logan Jones (31, 37, 40)
Referee: Carwyn Sion AR3: Tony Davies
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