Cardiff RFC record back-to-back victories at home for the first time since March in Super Rygbi Cymru as they put aside Pontypool 31-3 at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Tries from Alun Rees, Tom Cottle, Joe Goodchild, Ben Fry, and Gavin Parry, along with six points from the tee by Lloyd Lucas, saw the Blue and Blacks triumph in a hard-fought contest as part of a huge double-header.
Speaking after the final whistle, head coach Dan Fish said: “Delighted with the win.
“I challenged the boys in the week to bring that physicality, and we know that Pontypool are a physical team, really good in the contact area.
“So, that was big for us going into the game, if we could to win that battle, it would give us the opportunity for us to put our game onto them.
“And I thought our boys were outstanding in that area today.”
Story Of The Game
On an afternoon where the temperature stayed low, though patches of the sun broke through the clouds it was Kieran Meek who got proceedings underway with the wind behind his side.
The hosts began instantly on the front foot after a penalty kick from Lucas into the visitors’ 22. However, after some heroic defending by Pooler the ball was eventually turned over after a number of phases for the Blue and Blacks.
Minutes later the hosts won a penalty from a lineout after a Meek clearance kick. This was then followed by Meek missing another penalty from inside his own half after 25 minutes.
Lucas then had his kick charged down shortly following this, with Meek chasing to regather possession. However, despite receiving medical attention seconds earlier winger, Dewi Cross impressively raced back to touchdown for a goal line dropout.
Then the deadlock was eventually broken at the end of the first quarter after Lucas de la Rua was penalised around the breakdown. Outside half Meek from distance slotted the three points.
This was then followed by Meek missing another penalty from inside his own half. After 25 minutes, the visitors held a slender 3-0 lead. That lead was no more after the half an hour mark, as ill discipline from the visitors proved costly.
Following numerous penalties inside Pooler’s 22, after a number of catch and drives hooker, Rees scored his second of the season.
HT: Cardiff 5-3 Pontypool
Now with the wind behind them, despite it being a back and forth start to the final 40 minutes as the sun began to set, so the Blue and Blacks grew in confidence.
After a timely kick into the corner by Lucas, the visitors fumbled possession at the lineout and Cottle gathered and extended the hosts’ lead.
Goodchild then claimed his fifth try of the season prior to the hour mark. This came from some brilliant handling which lead to a picturesque finish in the corner for the winger.
The try bonus point was then secured on the 65-minute mark. After a period of pressure on the visitors’ defence, Fry timed his run and powered over for his second of the season after coming off the bench.
Then with minutes left on the clock, from a catch and drive replacement hooker Parry scored as Cardiff claimed the spoils emphatically 31-3 in front of a healthy crowd at the Cardiff Arms Park.
FT: Cardiff 31-3 Pontypool