Pontypridd prove too strong for Foresters

WELSH Premier outfit Pontypridd were too strong for Cinderford as the Foresters lost their second consecutive pre-season trial game at Dockham Road.

Ponty, who finished fifth last year in their division which is effectively a level above, were ruthless on the counter attack running in six tries to Cinderford’s two.

The Cinderford pack looked strong and camped on their opponents’ try-line on a few occasions but a 33-0 half-time deficit was always going to be too much.

Youngster Mike Wilcox continued to pull the strings from stand off and his fantastic break set up George Evans but his rampaging charge fell short after three minutes.

Cinderford were awarded a penalty which new singing Danny Pointon took quickly and fed Phil Kennedy but he too was denied an early chance to score.

Another new signing, Ali Bressington, chipped ahead of Ponty’s defence five minutes later and nearly touched down but the Welsh defenders got their first.

Ponty had played a pre-season game more than Cinderford and looked fresher and took the lead on 11 minutes with a swift handling move from a scrum on halfway which was converted.

Cinderford’s rolling maul then tested Ponty on their own line three minutes later but again came up short.

With a quarter of the game gone Ponty got their second score with numbers out wide for an easy touchdown but the conversion missed.

Seven minutes later Ponty had their third try from another swift counter attack following a Cinderford lost line-out with two more points added making it 19-0.

The fourth try came five minutes before the break after a sweeping handling move from one side of the pitch to the other with the conversion on target.

On half-time more slick passing produced their firth score with the kick added for a 33-point advantage.

However, new back row Dan Hall went over for Cinderford on the hour after lots of pressure on Ponty’s line but Pointon missed the conversion.

Nigel Matthews got the Foresters’ second try in similar fashion with two minutes left and Pointon added two more but Ponty had the last word with their sixth try in added time.

CINDERFORD: A Bressington; J Carter, B Turner, D Scourfield, R Haile; M Wilcox, D Pointon; P Kennedy, B Saville, S Knight; D Buffton, C Jones; R Jenkins, C McNeil, G Evans.

PONTYPRIDD: M Nuthall; L Williams, G Dacey, D Lockyer, C Clayton; D Gunter, R Downes; J Williams, R Williams, P Palmer; C Martenko, C Dicomidis; K Dacey, D Waters, N Strong.