Pontllanfraith travelled to Forgeside for their first league fixture in two months. Fraith made 7 changes to the side that had come out on top in the fiercely contested reverse fixture earlier this season.
The game started with Pont playing uphill and into a ferocious wind and the home side used this to their advantage, dominating territory and possession for much of the opening half.
Both teams exchanged early penalties with the home team up 6-3 after 20 minutes. A superb 50/22 kick from Forgeside saw them win a lineout 5 meters out. Despite the ball being touched on the sideline, the home side took a quick lineout and scored the opening try. Pont protested to the referee in similar fashion to Ireland in 2011, but the try stood. Pont responded well, getting into Forgesides 22 for the first time in the game and were rewarded for their hard work when tighthead prop Ashton Morgan bundled his way over from close range. Pont failed to hold the momentum though, with an injury to top try scorer Ieaun Beal, a yellow card for Nathan Meyrick and another Forgeside penalty just before halftime.
Half Time: Forgeside 16-10 Pontllanfraith
Forgeside started the second half brightly, capitalising on the man advantage to score their second try of the game. However, with the slope, Pont began to turn the screw at scrum time causing all sorts of problems for the home side which cumulated in a penalty try for the Fraith. Forgeside then decided to take off a front rower and go passive in the scrums to negate Pont’s dominance. However, once the referee reminded them that going passive would result in them playing with 14 men, the prop’s injury disappeared, and he returned the field.
Pont took the lead for the first time in the game with about 15 minutes to go. Mark Counsell took full advantage of poor ruck defence to dart straight out the ruck from 15 meters out and cross under the posts. Pont pushed for a bonus point score but settled for another Penalty from the reliable boot of Andrew Colwill to give them a 6 point lead with 5 minutes to play.
Forgeside came back strong in the last 5 minutes needing a converted try to win the game. They had possession deep in the Fraith 22 for what felt like forever, but the blue wall stood strong.
Full Time: Forgeside 21-27 Pontllanfraith
It’s a testament to the coaching and squad depth that Pont can go win a huge game like this with so many players unavailable. Big shout out to the two Matthew Davis/Davies’s, Dunnin who put in a superb performance making his debut today and Trev making his return to the Fraith. Up next Pont host current league leaders Abersychan in two weeks’ time.
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