Blackwood outclassed

Feb 17 2008 by Staff Reporter, Wales On Sunday

Blackwood 7-28 Pontypridd

WING Chris Clayton scored two of Ponty’s five tries as they reached the quarter-finals for the 20th time.

But head coach Paul John kept his feet on the ground last night.

“You can’t relax whether you are playing cup or league,” said John.

“We were not good in the first half when I counted 13 mistakes in one way or another.

“The cup and league are equally important to us.

“And it’s good for this competition when premiership teams go to clubs like Blackwood.”

Pontypridd, three times trophy winners and three times runners-up were playing their third cup match at Blackwood in seven seasons.

They won there 24-8 in the last 16 in 2001-02, going on to beat Llanelli in the final 20-17.

Three seasons later, they won 33-13 in an early round at Blackwood – and lost the final to Llanelli 24-25.

This time they went to Blackwood on the back of a 22-12 triumph at Stradey – their first cup win there.

Blackwood backs coach Jeremy Lloyd said: “Ponty wore us down eventually but some of our players turned in quality performances in that first half.”

Scrum-half and captain Gavin Rees at No 8 and Leigh Taylor set a great standard before the break.

Referee Simon Harris of Taibach awarded only seven penalties in the match to emphasise the spirit of the game.

Home outside-half Paul Emanuelli saw a 30-metre penalty attempt fall short after five minutes.

Then Blackwood centre Luke Knight was over after a break by wing Owen Williams but was called back for a forward pass.

Ponty No 8 and captain Nathan Strong put them ahead after 20 minutes with a try to cap forward pressure following a scrum near the home line.

Outside-half Neil Burnett landed a 40th-minute penalty to earn an 8-0 interval break.

Centre Paul Matthews snapped up Ponty’s second try after a Burnett cross kick.

But Blackwood cut the deficit to 13-7 for five minutes when substitute lock Lewis Lovell went over in a forward surge similar to that which brought Strong’s try.

Lovell had gone on for Gareth Short only a minute earlier.

Ponty’s third try, by flanker Wayne O’Connor, put the game beyond Blackwood.

And it was no surprise when Clayton picked up his brace in a six-minute spell midway through the second half.

BLACKWOOD: Try – L Lovell; con – P Emanuelli.

PONTYPRIDD: Tries – C Clayton (2), N Strong, P Matthews, W O’Connor; pen – N Burnett.