Pontypool and Ebbw Vale get first wins in Indigo premiership

The Steelmen’s outside half Evan Lloyd put the boot into Pontypridd as he kicked Jason Strange’s side back into a red-hot contest at Eugene Cross Park before steering the home team to a 31-21 victory.

Ebbw had given Merthyr a 21-point lead at The Wern on the opening weekend before reeling them back in to take a losing bonus point and this time they allowed Ponty to build a 15-point advantage.

Former Cardiff Rugby centre Ryan Wilkins played a part in two early tries for the visitors as he firstly sent Dale Stuckey into the left corner and then finished off a free-flowing move that had started in his own 22.

Josh Phillips converted the latter and then added a penalty to make it 15-0. Lloyd then got started and kicked two penalties of his own before converting a Lewis Young driving maul score to cut the gap to two points.

Pontypool Score try against Swansea (Image: ncrphotography)

Pontypool score a try against Swansea. Picture: ncrphotography

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Phillips launched a long-range effort that made it 18-13 to Ponty.

That lead didn’t last long after the break as wing Ryan Davies crossed for Lloyd to improve. 

Then the home outside half picked a penalty and dropped a goal to take his match tally to 16 points.

Opposite number Phillips kept the game very much alive with another penalty before No 8 Ryan Jenkins rounded off proceedings with a third home try.

At Pontypool Park, Matthew Jarvis was the saviour for Pooler as he kicked a penalty five minutes from time to notch a 20-17 win over Swansea. 

“It’s my job at the end of the day. I missed one early on and that was annoying,” admitted Jarvis, who will head back to one of his former clubs, Aberavon, this weekend.

“It’s massive for the club and this is where we, as players, and the club want to be. Also, for the fans, who are the bedrock of the club and always give us great support.”

Pontypool cruise past Swansea with 20-17 victory. Picture: ncrphotography (Image: ncrphotography)

Pontypool cruised past Swansea with 20-17 victory. Picture: ncrphotography

Rhys Jones had kicked the Whites into an early lead and then converted a try by Harvey Jones that made it 10-7 midway through the first half. 

Pontypool had a try by Wales U20 wing Huw Anderson for starters, which Jarvis converted, and then took full advantage of a yellow card to back row man Jake Baker on the stroke of half-time for skipper Scott Matthews to drive over.

Jarvis added the extras and then extended the lead early in the second half with a penalty from halfway.

Back came Swansea with a Matthew Jenkins try that Matthew Aubrey converted to level at 17-17, but then came the sting in the tail from Jarvis to extend Pooler’s unbeaten home league run dating back to April 2016.