By David Parsons
Pontypridd full-back Josh Phillips has praised his 13-man team as their recovery continues in the Indigo Group Premiership.
Ponty delivered a backs-to-the-wall defensive display as they secured four welcome points at Aberavon at the weekend to make it back-to-back wins.
On the scoresheet, a first half penalty try followed by three penalties from the boot of Phillips in the second period earned a 16-10 triumph for the Valley Commandos.
๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ@josh_phillips10โs 3๏ธโฃ successful penalties on Saturday took him past 1๏ธโฃ0๏ธโฃ0๏ธโฃ points for the season ๐#WeArePonty ๐ค๐ค pic.twitter.com/fPbjf6FYPK
— Pontypridd RFC (@PontypriddRFC) November 20, 2023
But that only tells half the story, as they had to dig deep following three second half yellow cards, to Ben Burnell, Cally James and Macauley Cook and, at one point, were having to defend for their lives with 13 men as Aberavon piled on the pressure.
โWe were on our line for a solid 10 minutes straight, down to 14 men against 15 and then down to 13 men and Aberavon still couldnโt break us,โ said Phillips afterwards.
โThe work rate of the boys was just tremendous โ and that doesnโt require talent.
โIn that situation we just worked hard, like weโve worked hard in training.
โWeโve had our hiccups against other teams and I think weโve put it right today and, hopefully, we can bounce on from here now going into Quins on Thursday night.โ
๐ฝ๏ธ @AberavonRFC 10-16 @PontypriddRFC
Pwyntiau gwerthfawr i Ponty yn erbyn Aberafan
Ponty secure welcome points against Wizards #IndigoPrem pic.twitter.com/qL53eXGWFM
— The Indigo Prem (@IndigoPrem) November 20, 2023
The Wizards had led 10-7 at half time with centre Sam Jardine scoring a well-worked try.
James Davies added the extras and also kicked a penalty.
Next up for Pontypridd is a home clash with Carmarthen Quins on Thursday night.
The west Walians will head to Sardis Road following a sixth consecutive defeat. The Quinsโ latest reverse came at home against Merthyr 22-18, having led 18-7.
Jac Wilson had kicked them into an early 6-0 lead but the Ironmen hit back with a try from skipper Craig Locke, which Josh Lewis improved.
Two more Wilson penalties nudged the Quins 12-7 in front at half time and that lead extended further to 11 points with kicks six and seven from the tee.
TRAVIS HUNTLEY v Pontypridd.
๐ 11 TACKLES
๐ช 12 CARRIES pic.twitter.com/XoJE4U0PvZ— Aberavon RFC (@AberavonRugby) November 20, 2023
But it would be Merthyr leaving Carmarthen Park with the spoils thanks to second half tries from Liam Wiggins and Ben Jones. Lewis and Gareth Thompson added a conversion and penalty respectively.
Having had their seven-game winning run ended at Llandovery last weekend, Pontypool responded as they saw off Neath 24-12.
Conditions made it difficult for both sides but it was Pooler ahead 10-0 at the break through a Kelvyn Williams try, converted by Matthew Jarvis who also kicked an earlier penalty.
That lead was extended when Pooler were awarded a penalty try four minutes after the re-start.
Neath were rewarded for their efforts with second half tries from Morgan Kneath and Ryan Griffiths. Kristian Jones converted the latter to pull the score back to 17-12.
The game was in the balance until the final phases of play when Marcus Jones scored Poolerโs third try, converted by Jarvis.
Another tough and physical encounter at Brecon this afternoon, the #Youth winning wagon rolling on@BRECONRFC 12@RFCMerthyr 33
Try scorers
๐ Leon Caviel x2
๐ Colby Morgan
๐ Logan Hannah
๐ Sol HadleyCaviel adding 8-points from the boot#YoungIronmen๐ค๐๐
— Merthyr RFC ๐ (@RFCMerthyr) November 18, 2023
Meanwhile the 2022 champions, and last seasonโs runners-up, Cardiff, hit back following damaging home defeats against Pontypool and Newport as they ran out 22-12 victors at Swansea.
Skipper Joey Tomlinson ran in a try in each half after Tom Habberfield had set them on their way with an early score. Arwel Robson kicked two conversions and a penalty.
The All Whites responded from 22-0 down in the second half through tries from Ieuan Bissell, converted by Brandon Wood, and Morgan Morse โ but they are still searching for their first home win of the season.
Bridgend made it back-to-back wins by defeating RGC 14-10 in the first of a run of straight home games at the Dunraven Brewery Field for the Ravens.
Kick off had been delayed by 90 minutes after RGCโs bus broke down en route.
๐ฝ๏ธ @PontypoolRFC 24-12 @neathrfc
Pont-y-pลตl yn rhy gryf i Gastell Need
Pontypool see off Neath #IndigoPrem pic.twitter.com/owb8n2mog8
— The Indigo Prem (@IndigoPrem) November 20, 2023
Outside half Paul Shortโs first half penalty handed the Ravens a slender 3-0 half time advantage which he doubled with his second penalty from long range just after the interval.
RGCโs Sam Earl-Jones and Short then traded further penalties before wing Cameron Ellisโ try on 77 minutes cemented victory for Bridgend โ despite a late Ollie Wynn reply for RGC which Earl-Jones converted.
This result for Bridgend backs up their win at Neath โ which ended a four-game losing sequence.
It was also the Ravensโ fifth win in their last six home games against RGC, which also includes their 35-13 Premiership Cup victory over the Gogs back in September.
https://twitter.com/mitchellyoung19/status/1725911016679063801?s=20