Pontypridd snatched a draw in the last minute of a game Cardiff will feel they should have won before halftime.
Ponty were straight out of the blocks in the first ten minutes, their scrum rewarding them with a penalty that Josh Phillips converted into points. The outside half was on target again a few minutes later when Cardiff were caught offside to double the lead.
It took the Blue & Blacks a little time to settle into the game and field position was generally in favour of the home side. But when Cardiff did have an opportunity they took it. From a lineout near halfway Cardiff worked the ball forward through a series of drives, and when the ball was released to the backs Harrison James gave the perfect inside pass to allow Dewi Cross to break the line. The wing then turned on the after burners and raced over. James was just wide with the conversion but was able to put the Blue & Blacks ahead a few minutes later when he slotted a penalty.
Cardiff were now in the ascendancy and when a lineout just outside the Ponty twenty-two was moved into mid-field Morgan Allen took a short pass and burst through a gap to power over the line while Ponty tacklers looked on. Ponty had a chance themselves as the half closed, only a magnificent tackle in the corner prevented what looked like a certain try. Phillips did though land a third penalty just as the half finished.
The second half saw Ponty come out all guns blazing, but the Cardiff defence was up to the task of pushing them back. The referee, however, deemed some of Cardiff’s play to be illegal and brandished yellow cards throughout the second half with Nathan Hudd the first to receive a card. Ponty, however, were unable to capitalise on his absence and in fact James extended the Cardiff lead with a penalty. When Freddie Barnes was also carded, putting Cardiff down to thirteen men, Ponty managed to score in the corner through Garyn Smith.
James extended Cardiff’s lead to five points when Ponty dragged down a maul andthat left just over ten minutes to play. The home side began to throw everything at Cardiff in a desperate effort to win the match. Cardiff held firm for most of those minutes, but a third yellow was brandished when Joey Tomlinson was carded for bringing down a maul.
With fourteen men the Blue & Blacks defended for their lives. But with the clock in the red Will Keep went over in the corner to bring the sides level. Joe Scrivens couldn’t convert, leaving the scores level as the referee blew for no side.