Jenkins Boots Ponty To Victory At Bridgend

BRIDGEND 9, PONTYPRIDD 26
Neil Jenkins wasted no time to get back in the groove with his old club as he kicked seven penalties in his first start in three years for Pontypridd.
The world record points scorer edged nearer the 3,000 points mark for the valleys club as he steered them to a notable victory at the Brewery Field.
Bridgend came into the match looking for a third successive win, but they couldn’t match the Ponty pack and found no way through behind the scrum.
It was nip and tuck for much of the game and it took more than 20 minutes for the first score to come. By the break the sides were still locked together at 6-6 with Jenkins and Craig Warlow swapping two penalties apiece.
Jenkins then added another four penalties in the second half to extend the lead to 18-6 as the Bridgend pack were penalised for killing the ball. But the key moment came when Geraint Lewis rescued a dropped pass, broke through the first line of defence and linked with Brett Davey.
The Ponty full back drove deep into the home territory before picking out man of the match Richard Parks with a pass that allowed the international openside to race to the line for a vital try.
Starved of possession up front, Bridgend couldn’t create behind and they slumped to their first defeat of the season.
Scorers: Bridgend: Pens: C Warlow 3. Pontypridd: Try: R Parks; Pens: N Jenkins 7.