Having conceded an interception try to the predatory Dale Stuckey in the early minutes, the visitors went into the break 13-8 in arrears. They then conceded a try to loose head prop Ian George, but went on to dominate the second half with a blistering burst of three tries in 15 minutes that earned them a bonus-point.
Back row man Tim Grey, named as the man of the match, picked up and drove over from the base of a five metre scrum in the first half and then replacement scrum half Cam Davies, dynamic flanker Dan Owen crossed twice and wing Sam Jones rounded things off with a fifth try.
Both teams had gone into the game on the back of defeats the previous weekend and RGC’s victory allowed them to leapfrog Ponty and briefly take over at the top of the table at the start of round four.
Chasing them down today will be reigning champions Merthyr, who host Aberavon before heading north to Colwyn Bay for next Friday’s live game on Scrum V against the Gogs, and Ebbw Vale, who welcome Bridgend to Eugene Cross Park for a game that will see hooker Joe Franchi make his 100th appearance for the Steelmen.
Elsewhere, Cardiff will be hoping to back up their home win over Newport in Round 3 with another win at Carmarthen Quins, while Llanelli head to Llandovery for a mouthwatering Scarlets regional derby and Neath host Swansea in the pick of the bunch in the Ospreylia.
On Sunday, Newport host Bedwas at Rodney Parade in another local derby, this time in the Dragons region.
Principality Premiership – Round 4
Friday, 21September
Pontypridd 18 – 32 RGC 1404
Saturday, 22 September
Bargoed v Cross Keys
Bargoed: Julian Mogg; Duane Dyer, Barney Nightingale, Darren Humphries, Ashley Norton; Josh Prosser, James Leadbeater; John Lavender, Rhys Buckley, Alex Gardner-Key, Louis Blacker (captain), Adam Powell, Lewis Johnson, Alex Herbert, Grant Rogers
Reps: Matthew Bancroft, Jordan Purcell, Matt Billett, Owain Cooper, James Locke, Lewys Lippiett, Rhys Morgan
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Wes Cunliffe, Srdan Majkic, Declan Williams, Mason Williams; Jason Tovey, Owain Leonard; Gary Carpenter, Rhydian Jenkins. Richard Cornock, Damian Welch (captain), Harvey Reader, Lee Evans, Tom Lampard, Joe Thomas
Reps: Connah Vaughan, Scott Hoskins, Corey Hewlett, Todd James, Joe Carlin, Ben Snell, Dan Babos, Ian Newbury
Carmarthen Quins v Cardiff
Carmarthen Quins: Aled Thomas; Dale Ford, Nick Reynolds, Osian Knott, Mattew John; Jac Wilson, Gareth Rees; Gethin Robinson, Thomas Ball, Kemsley Mathias, Lee Taylor, Haydn Pugh (captain), Ed Siggery, Gethin Davies, Lewys Millin
Reps: Steff Phillips, Torin Myhill, Connor Allen, Jac Price, Ellis Lloyd, Liam Davies, Josh Batcup, Dylan Morgans,
Cardiff: Llywarch Ap Myrddin; Matthew Powell, Will Rees-Hole, Joe Gatt, Cameron Lewis; Steffan Jones, Nicky Griffiths; Thomas Davies, Joey Tomlinson (captain), Peter Lloyd, Miles Normandale, Sam Pailor, Tom Daley, Zach O’Driscoll, Rory Pitman
Reps: Ramaz Rukhadze, Ian Jenkins, Ross Davies, James Murphy, Morgan Allen, Martin Roberts, Gareth Thompson, Amir Jiwa-Walji
Ebbw Vale v Bridgend
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Steffan Thomas, Carl Meyer, Dom Franchi, Toby Fricker; Rhys Jones, Matthew Flanagan; Joel Harries, Joe Franchi, Rob Sevenoaks, Lance Randall, Ashley Sweet, Cameron Regan, Ronny Kynes (captain), Lewis Young
Reps: Rhys Francis, Ross Jones, Rhys Clarke, Curtis Hicks, Kris Parker, Dai Jones, James Lewis, Paul King
Bridgend: Mikey Kennedy; Morgan Jones, Stuart Floyd Ellis, Nathan Edwards (captain), Will Holley; Jamie Murphy, Chris Williams; Rhodri Apsee, Iestyn Merriman, Cai Lewis, Chris John, Shaun O’Rourke, Tom Morgan, Adam O’Driscoll, Dafi Davies
Reps: Owen Thomas, Owen Jordan, Garyn Daniel, James Little, Owen Lloyd, Aled Evans, Connor Tantum, Ryan Evans
Llandovery v Llanelli
Llandovery: Gavin Thomas; Richard Williams, Ryan Evans, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Dafydd Land; Dino Dallavalle, Ricky Guest, Llyr Green, Jack Jones, Jake Baker, Joe Powell, Shaun Miles, Richard Brooks (captain)
Reps: Dexter Thomas, Berian Watkins, Jordan Evans, George David, Matthew Moore , Harri Doel, Kristian Jones, Lee Rees
Llanelli: Tom Rogers; Liam Hutchings, Joe Roberts, Ben Atkins, Liam Smith; Ashley Sutton, Gareth George; Callum Williams, Callum Jenkins, Richard Bassett, Elliott Rees, Ashleigh Hyndman, Joel James, Ellis Thomas, Nathan Hart
Reps: Rhys Cherry, Dylan Lawley, Adam Thomas, Lloyd Pike, Jak Robbins, Jonathan Lewis, Leon Randell
Merthyr v Aberavon
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis; Jay Baker, Adam Thomas, Josh Martin, Kyle Evans; Gareth Davies, Justin James; Nathan Trevett, Rhys Williams, Joe Rees, Paddy McBride, Kris Smith, Nick White, J Parker, Phil Rees (captain)
Reps: Ieuan Morris, Sam Hoobs, Louis Jones, Jake Thomas, Osian Davies, Adam Hoskins, L Williams, J Williams
Aberavon: Jon Phillips; Shaun Pearce, Frankie Jones, Rheon James, Chris Banfield; Steffen Williams, Jacob Flynn; Mike Burgess, Luke Davies, Chris Davies, Ben Davies, Rhodri Hughes, Ashton Evans, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves (captain)
Reps: Liam Popham, James Garland, Ieuan Davies, Jac Morgan, Sam Williams, Rhys Force, Geraint James, Ben Thomas
Swansea v Neath
Swansea: Luke Griffiths; Ryan Griffiths, Gareth Rees, J. Rhys Williams, Andrew Claypole; Foard Cooksley, Josh Guy; Tom Sloane, Paul John, Greg Cuniffe, Tudor Hughes, Jon Fox (captain), Jon Vaughan, Callum Bowden, Duane Eager
Reps: Sion Jones, Jack Powell, Tom Harper, Gethin John, Ben Davies, Sam Cambriani, Jedd Evans, Joe Jenkins
Neath: Ed Howley; Ryan Pugh, Aaron Bramwell, Gavin Evans, Ian Ellis; Callum Hall, Scott Gibson; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Liam Tobias, Jon Barley, Scott Andrews (captain), Jordan Collier, Lloyd Evans, 8 Ieuan Jones
Reps: TBC
Sunday, 23 September
Newport v Bedwas
Newport: Geraint O’Driscoll, Jon Morris Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien, Geraint Watkin; Dan Preece, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, Andrew Mann, Joe Bartlett, Josh Skinner, Kyle Tayler, Rhys Jenkins (captain)
Reps: Louis Tovey, Lewis Smout, Jack Williams, Chris Williams, Josh Reid, Ryan James, David Richards, Haydn Simons
Bedwas: Michael Hathaway; Dai Evans, Patric Lewis, Adam Williams, Kane Teear-Bourge; Jacob Chilcott, Tom Rowlands; Brynley Toms, Alun Rees (captain), Ellis Evans, Matthew Screech, Craig Hudd, James Richards, Sion Parry, Jonathan Armitage
Reps: Tom Devine, Mike Dacey, Chris Budgen, Gareth Allen, Dale Rogers, Luke Crane, Mike Callow, Joe Scrivens
