Pontypridd maintained their 100 per cent record in the Admiral Premiership as they got the better of Narberth 52-23 at Sardis Road and star wing Dale Stuckey says the Valley Commandoes are enjoying their trip into the unknown this season.
It was only the second meeting between the two clubs, with their only previous meeting coming in January 2006 in a Welsh Cup tie in which Ponty ran out comfortable 50-0 winners.
The Otters, despite having lost their opening three matches, looked more than a match for the hosts in the first 40 minutes and deservedly held the lead 15-5 and 18-12 at one stage. Scrum-half Lewys Gibby and hooker Kyle Hamer scored, along with a conversion and two penalties from Jonathan Rogers.
Ponty took a narrow 19-18 lead into the break thanks to tries from lock Mitch Barnard, blindside flanker Cai James and skipper Cally James, with Jacob Symes adding two conversions.
The second half, however, was dominated by the home side who scored further tries through wing Louis Rochefort-Shugar, Cally James again, prop Morgan Bosanko, Lucas Welsh – and Stuckey.
Symes added a further three conversions while Jayden Pugh improved the Stuckey try. Gibby grabbed a second try for Narberth.
“Ecstatic for the boys really,” said Ponty stalwart Stuckey – in what is his testimonial season.
“They dig in on Tuesdays and Thursdays; they’ve come unstuck a couple of times in the other games and missing out on a bonus point – but today showed again what we can actually do when we got stuck in that second half.”
A fourth win from four takes Chris Dicomidis’ side, in second, on to 18 points. Only old rivals Merthyr have a better record with maximum points from their four matches so far. The Ironmen were not in action at the weekend.
Ponty saw off Bargoed with a bonus point on the opening weekend, they defeated Newbridge 22-0 before a narrow 14-13 win at Llangennech. Next up is a trip to Cardiff Met followed by a home game with Bonymaen.
“It’s four good wins, we couldn’t have asked for much more. We’ve got a bonus point today and what we’re working on in training is starting to show,” added Stuckey.
“A lot of games for us this season we’re going into the unknown, especially away, and not really knowing our opponent. It’s a good test every week and it’s down to us to turn up and play our game.”
Neath remain third after scoring eight tries to make it four league wins on the spin as they recorded a 48-27 victory at Newcastle Emlyn.
Hooker Evan Kneath led the way with the first two and others came from wing Ryan Griffiths, replacement wing Ki Morgan, scrum half Ellis Lewis, replacement hooker Kian Jones, lock Matthew Davies and a penalty try. Outside-half Steff Williams added three conversions.
Despite being 31-8 down at the interval, the home side never gave up and clocked a bonus point for their four tries scored by Emrys Davies, Callum Williams, Llyr Jones and Dylan Rowe. Ellis Payne kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Dylan Williams scored a second half hat-trick as Bargoed racked up a comprehensive 66-21 win over Bonymaen. Jordan Howells, Kieran Brown, Dai Evans, a Louis Tovey (2), Louis Johnson and a penalty try also scored, while Matthew Lewis kicked three conversions and Josh Prosser four.
Tries from Geraint Clarke, Sam Jones and Kristian Dacey, along with two conversions and a penalty from James Dixon, saw Brecon to victory 22-14 at Ystrad Rhondda. Alex Webber and Callum Davies got the Ystrad tries, with Lewis Williams and Rhys Truelove adding a conversion apiece.
A brace from Kalum Evans helped Llangennech see off Cardiff Met 28-23. Eray Wilson also scored with two conversions and three penalties by Steff Marshall.
Cross Keys were victors 21-17 at Newbridge. Laurence Donnelly and Adam Tetley got the Keys tries. Tetley added one conversion and one penalty with Ben Elliott also sending over two penalties.
Lloyd Ford and Jakob Duffy scored for Newbridge. Eamonn Rees kicked two conversions and a penalty.
