Fixture

Ponty entertained Ogmore Vale to the Oakwood and with the early KO at 1:30 and pitch inspection, due to the overnight rain; this wasn’t the best preparation for both teams with late arrivals, etc. In fact Ponty started with only 14 men due to fly half Morgan Kennerley arriving late.

Ponty kicked off playing into the wind and with  the sun in their face, it was a cagey opening where both sides were trying work each other out and it was Ogmore who struck first, a penalty from ‘hands in the ruck’ allowing the Ogmore fly-half slot it over making it 0-3.

Ponty responded with an excellent try when, captain and No8, Rhys Curtis picked up at the base of a scrum in the Ponty half and brushed off the blindside flanker drew the last man and perfectly timed pass to left winger Matthew Hooper allowing him to sprint in from 40 yards to go under the posts which was converted by Morgan Kennerley, 7-3 to Ponty.

Ogmore was next on the score sheet when after numerous pick & go’s found the Ponty defence short on the blind side and quick hands put the Ogmore winger in the corner, try unconverted, score now 7-8 in Ogmore’s favour.

Ponty restarted long and pushed Ogmore deep into their 22 and forced a turnover, Ponty now with possession and territory battered at the Ogmore try line only for the Ogmore players to off their feet giving Ponty a penalty, quick thinking from fly-half Morgan Kennerley caught the Ogmore side sleeping and a quick tap saw him power over from 5 yards to score the try, Ponty now back in front again, score 12-8.

The game restarted and several plays later from both teams led to an unsavoury moment just before the halftime with a mass brawl, the result was two red cards and one yellow card (red & yellow Ponty, red Ogmore).

Half-time Pontrhydyfen 12 Ogmore Vale 8

With the referee having sent off players from the 1^st half altercation, this now meant that Ponty was down to 13 men for 10 mins, and 14 for the rest of the game.

Ogmore now with a two man advantage was spreading the ball at every opportunity and pushed Ponty deep into their own 22, then a great turnover on the Ponty try line from the forwards, saw the backs, started by Marc Sheppard, move the ball wide and some inter passing, that resembled a Fijians 7’s side, saw second row Dale Bowen, who supported excellently, cross over for what would be a serious contender for try of the season. Ponty now 17-8 and were two scores clear of Ogmore.

Ogmore now threw everything at Ponty and eventually found a way through the Ponty defence scoring a try when Ponty finally ran out of defenders, which was converted 17-15 with 15mins left on the clock.  Ponty didn’t panic and played smart rugby turning Ogmore at every opportunity with the boot and with a good chase forced Ogmore to give away a penalty in their own half, up stepped Kennerley to convert to make the score 20-15 with 10mins to play.

Ogmore now knowing that a penalty wasn’t enough to win attacked with ball in hand at every opportunity, but to no avail as Ponty’s defence stood strong and with a man down kept out Ogmore to win the game.

While Ponty were not at their very best, the coaches will very pleased with the work and defensive effort by everyone involved.

Excellent win against a good Ogmore side, well done all. Cefn Cribbwr away next lads and another early 1:30 KO.

Full-time Pontrhydyfen 20 Ogmore Vale 15