The Wales U20 international scored the first and last tries of a stormy encounter to help continue the Whites’ march out of the relegation zone.
“The average age of our team today was only 24 so to beat Pontypridd with the last play of the game is outstanding. We now move on to a crunch game next week against Bridgend,” said Swansea head coach, Hugh Gustafson.
“This was a must win match for us and I thought we started really well in the opening 20 minutes but we let Pontypridd back in with some ill-discipline,”
“The narrow wins we have had lately show the squad has some real character and we have only come up short in some matches by very close margins. We’ve had some older heads retire over the summer and our younger players are really stepping up to the mark now.”
Carson used his strength to hold off a tackler to score his opening try, which James Davies improved, and then a huge scrum by the home pack allowed them to kick into the Ponty 22. Jay Williams took the lineout before a chip through to the corner was collected by Josh Thomas, who touched down for a second home try.
Rhydian Jenkins and Kris Parker replied with tries for the visitors, both converted by Ben Jones, before an unstoppable from the Ponty pack was taken down illegally and the referee ordered a penalty try and also sent Tom Sloane to the sin-bin.
Davies kicked two penalties for Swansea, and Jones landed one for the visitors, to leave Ponty holding a 24-18 lead at the break. After 42 first half points, including five tries, there were only eight more in the second half.
They all went to Swansea as Davies kicked a third penalty and then Carson stole the show with his last gasp try.
League leaders Cardiff had to stay patient at the Arms Park before securing their 10th win in a row with a 20-3 victory over reigning champions Merthyr. The Ironmen were the last team to beat the Blue & Blacks on their own patch in the league at the start of last season and were within a score until almost the final 10 minutes.
Cardiff led 7-3 at the break thanks to a James Beal try converted by Gareth Thompson. The Ironmen hit back with a penalty from Matthew Jarvis.
Home skipper Morgan Allen spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin around the half-time break, but Merthyr weren’t able to take advantage of their extra man. Thompson increased the lead with a 66th minute penalty before the outstanding Alex Everett ran in from half-way for a try six minutes from time that Thompson converted.
The home outside half then added a penalty at the death to complete the victory. Merthyr have now lost six games, only one less than they suffered in 30 games in winning the title for a third time in a row last season.
RGC ended their home assignments for 2019 on a high with a 36-30 bonus-point win that allowed them to leapfrog the Wizards into third place as they came out on top in a 10 try thriller at Parc Eirias.
While it was their last home game of the year, it was also the first in which Saul Nelson had been in charge following the decision by head coach Matt Silva to take some time away from the role due to personal reasons.
Forwards coach Nelson, along with fellow coaches Latham Tawhai and Josh Leach, stepped up for the game against the Wizards and must have been impressed with the effort of their young side in the opening 40 minutes.
Four home tries not only earned them a 26-8 interval lead, but also bagged them a bonus-point. It was the second game in a row that Aberavon had conceded four tries in the first-half and it was their fourth defeat in a row after winning their opening four matches.
Home outside half Billy McBryde ended the day with 16 points and Harri Evans scored two of the RGC tries. Back row man Ashton Evans also got a brace for Aberavon, who slipped to fourth.
Owen Howe put the boot into Ebbw Vale to earn Bridgend a priceless second victory of the season, 18-15, at Eugene Cross Park to boost their hopes of once again surviving the dreaded drop from the top flight.
The Ravens’ full back landed six penalties to steal the show and help his side close the gap on fellow strugglers Ebbw to a mere three points at the bottom. It was their first win in two months since beating Merthyr 17-12 at home.
“I don’t want to say it was a must win game for us, but it was certainly important. Now we go back into training and prepare to face Swansea, which is another important game for us. We fought tooth and nail to stay up last year and we’re not where we want to be in the table yet,” said Bridgend head coach, Steve Jones.
Carmarthen cut unbeaten league leaders Cardiff’s advantage to 12 points with a game in hand as they bagged took all five points as they completed a double over Newport this season with a 26-20 triumph.
A stunning solo try from Elliot Frewen apart, it was a familiar tale tale of woe for Newport as they slumped to a fourth successive defeat. They have now lost eight of their 11 games this season, while for the home side it was a seventh win in a row in all competitions.
“We started the second half really well, but then we rested on our laurels a little bit. We thought we’d put the game to bed,” admitted Quins’ acting skipper Richard Bloomfield.
“Newport are a really good side and they definitely wagged at the end and made it difficult for us. We know they run from everywhere and we got punished for a couple of loose phases and slack defence.”
