United's crucial victory (From Free Press Series)

United's crucial victory

Pontypool Utd travelled to Risca knowing only victory would be good enough to keep their promotion hopes alive.

They made six changes from the previous Saturday; in came forwards Gareth Webb, Robert Taylor and Craig Jackson and backs Rhys Griffiths, Matthew Francombe-Ross and Dan Robinson.

Utd started brightly and took the lead as early as the fifth minute when player/coach Gareth Jenkins kicked a penalty.

The next score came when scrum-half Rhys Griffiths went blind and ran 25 metres to score, this was converted by Jenkins who kicked another penalty to put Utd 13-0 in front.

At this point the home side played their best rugby scoring a penalty and a push-over try from a five metre scrum to put the score 13-8 in favour of Utd.

Utd then rallied before half time scoring two tries by full-back Dale Nash and wing Nick Simmons one of which Jenkins converted to make the half time score 8-25 in Utd's favour.

In the second period Utd went through the phases scoring three converted tries without reply by Rhys Griffiths, Warren Edwards and Mark Parry to leave the final score 46-8 to Utd.

Next week Utd play two home games; Old Illtydians on Wednesday, May 3, and Cwmbran on Saturday, May 6, before they finish on May 13 at Abercarn.