Pontypridd Show Resolve
PONTYPRIDD 15 CARDIFF 9
Pontypridd fought their way to a home Celtic League quarter-final with a hard-fought win over a brave 14-man Cardiff team at Sardis Road.
Cardiff tighthead prop Ken Fourie was shown the red card by Scottish referee Iain Ramage in the 23rd minute for punching Wales international lock Robert Sidoli several times in the head in a ruck on the Cardiff try-line.
Sidoli emerged covered in blood, but Fourie was covered in shame as he made the long walk back to the changing rooms.
Moments later, he was joined on the sideline by fellow prop Peter Rogers, who was yellow-carded for repeated infringements at scrum-time. Rogers has now picked up three yellow cards in as many matches.
Cardiff dug deep in the rain, but five penalty goals from Brett Davey, unwanted by national selectors, proved enough to beat the three kicked by Cardiff’s Iestyn Harris.
Pontypridd: Pens – B Davey 5;
Cardiff: Pens – I Harris 3;
Pontypridd: B Davey; G Wyatt, S Parker, J Lewis, E Lewis; C Sweeney, P John; G Baber; G Jenkins (N Hennessy 52-60), M Davies (capt), D Bell, B Cockbain, R Sidoli (D McIntosh 23-33), G Lewis (W O’Connor 83), M Owen, R Parks.
Cardiff: R Williams; A Sullivan (G Woods 29-39, E Lewis 55), J Robinson, P Muller, C Morgan; I Harris, R Powell; P Rogers, A Lewis, K Fourie, H Senekal,
J Tait, R Appleyard (G Powell 23), D Baugh, M Williams (capt
J Tait, R Appleyard (G Powell 23), D Baugh, M Williams (capt