Pontllanfraith kicked off their 2023/24 league campaign at home against West Mon in glorious sunshine at Bryn playing fields in front of a packed crowd.
Pont kicked off playing up the slope in the first half and the visitors failed to claim the kickoff, allowing it to bounce into touch. Good pressure on West Mons lineout throw from captain Jake Bean resulted in a penalty to the Fraith. Andrew Colwill kicked for the corner and Jarrad Hook opened the scoring from a well worked driving lineout. Pont immediately piled more pressure onto West Mon thanks to a brilliant 50/22 kick from full back Ieaun-Rhys Beal. However, West Mon were able to clear their lines after the referee reversed a penalty decision due to backchat.
The first scrum of the game soon arrived and the Fraith forward pack certainly had the upper hand extracting a penalty. However against the run of play, it was the visitors who scored next thanks to a lovely break on halfway from their winger going over under the posts to level the scores. Pont almost hit back immediately, Josh Morril making a break from inside his own half, but as Pont advanced into the opposition 22 with a healthy overlap the ball was knocked on. Again, West Mon found joy down their left wing from inside their own half, the winger looked set to double his try count but for a last ditch tackle from full back Beal, West Mon applied pressure inside the 22 and had a scrum 5 meters out.
A delay followed for an injury to a West Mon prop from a collapsed scrum. Thankfully he was able to leave the field under his own power and we wish him a speedy recovery. Pont then were able to clear their lines after winning the reset scrum against the head. Pont had the lions share of territory and possession for the remainder of the half thanks to a dominant set piece but a knock on inside the visitors 22 saw West Mon once again scamper away and score. An excellent finish it must be said with a well-executed chip and regather. This was to be the final act of the first half.
Half Time: Pontllanfraith 7-14 West Mon
West Mon kicked off to open the second half and Andrew Colwill cleared the ball delightfully earning a 50/22 to put the pressure straight back onto the visitors. In similar fashion to the opening try of the game, Pont once again executed a driving lineout maul from 15 meters out with Nathan Meyrick crossing the line for Pont’s second try. Conversion missed to keep West Mon ahead. Jake Bean made a good break from the restart and Ieuan Rhys Beal was within inches of giving the home side another 50/22. Pont turned over the visitors lineout and a few phases later prop Jay Williams was held up over the try line. A scrappy period followed with some back and forth kicking.
Pont had entered the encounter with a strong bench and changes began to pay dividends. After another lineout maul made good ground, new signing Ethan Jones crossed from close range with virtually his first touch of the game. A superb break from Beal and great support from Jake Bean saw Pont threaten again but the final pass went to ground from prop Tom Hamer, denying Pont a sensational score. Hamer and his fellow front row soon made amends though, winning the resulting scrum against the head allowing replacement number 8 Matthew “Klunk” Williams to dart over from close range to secure the bonus point for the home side.
Scrums were now passive, allowing West Mon more of a platform. But their outside half fumbled the pass from the first passive scrum allowing Fraith scrum half Andrew Deneen to gain possession and scythe his way into the opponents half before a great pass set Brendan Williams on his way for Fraiths 5th try. Pont then put the game to bed with a 6th try, a lovely line and offload from Colwill put Beal into space and the full back did the rest.
Full credit to West Mon for plugging away until the final whistle and their efforts were awarded with a late try in the corner.
Full time: Pontllanfraith 38-21 West Mon
Tries: Jarrad Hook, Nathan Meyrick, Ethan Jones, Matthew Williams, Brendan Williams, Ieuan-Rhys Beal
Cons: Colwill x 4
Good to get the 5 points on the board despite sloppy first half display. Full credit to Andrew Colwill and Ieuan-Rhys Beal for a superb kicking display and putting Pont in the right areas. Next competitive fixture is an away day to Llandrindod Wells for the opening round of the cup on 23rd September.
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