All Bedwas could muster was two tries from Tom Hoppe and seven points from the boot of Joseph Scrivens.
After conceding an early penalty try Bedwas were the better side in the first-half but could not turn pressure into points. However, Pontypridd were a different side after the interval and the visitors couldn’t cope with their power.
Cardiff claimed the result of the season so far with a stunning 34-28 triumph over Merthyr at the Wern which keeps the Blue & Blacks in the title race. Steve Law’s side started like a house on fire full back Ed Howley scored the first of his two tries while centre Max Williams touched down to give his side a 15-0 half-time lead.
Cardiff skipper Joey Tomlinson then rounded off a sweeping move in the opening minute of the second half to increase the lead to 22 points. Merthyr finally reacted and tries from scrum half Justin Jones and centre Arran Pinches got the Ironmen to within eight points before Thomas rounded off another Llewellyn break to bag Cardiff’s bonus-point try.
But rather than seal things that score merely lit the touch-paper to a dramatic final quarter. Merthyr earned a penalty try from their powerful scrum, but then failed to clear their lines and conceded a fifth try to Howley.
Back came the home side with a try from wing Joe Williams three minutes from time, and the game ended with the Merthyr pack reaching the Cardiff try line from a driving line-out – but just failing to get over it to steal the victory.
Elsewhere, Bargoed slipped to their 11th defeat of the season as Llandovery ran out 21-11 winners at Church Bank. Scarlets hooker Marc Jones scored a brace of tries for the home side in what was a tight affair played in poor conditions.
Having clawed their way back into a muddy do-fight at Church Bank with a try from centre Jordan Howells at the end of the first half, Bargoed were just unable to convert their chances after the break and leave with anything to show for another mighty effort.
Ebbw Vale emerged 20-7 victor’s over a stubborn Llanelli outfit at Eugene Cross Park which keeps the Steelmen in touch with the Principality Premiership’s leading group. Despite the comfortable nature of the score-line the game was in the balance until the 70th minute when flanker Lloyd Evans pounced for a crucial try.
But the real star of the show was outstanding Ebbw Vale winger Toby Fricker who snapped up a brace of unconverted tries. Jonny Lewis scored Llanelli’s only try.
On Sunday defeated Carmarthen Quins 22-15 at Rodney Parade to inflict a fifth defeat in a row on Emyr Phillips’ side who slipped to ninth in the table. For the home side it was their tenth win of the season which keeps them in sixth place in the Principality Premiership table.
Quins started the stronger of the two sides with Scarlets’ South African full back Clayton Blommetjies running in from 20 metres to score. But Joe Bartlett scored straight after the re-start for Newport and the momentum of the game shifted completely when loose-head prop Dan Preece crossed from short-range.
Chay Smith ran in the home sides third try before Quins lock Lee Taylor scored a late try which gave the west Walians a losing bonus point.
