Fly-half Dai Flanagan was the hero for the Welsh side, controlling the game and kicking his side to a narrow victory.
Having soaked up an early phase of Leeds pressure from the kick-off, Ponty forged upfield through the territorial kicking of Flanagan. The game got off to a balanced start although at times it was blighted by errors with the referee’s whistle prominent.
The first quarter of an hour remained score-less and although they were mostly pinned back in their own half, Ponty showed glimpses of their ability to counter, with wingers Owen Williams and Matthew Nuthall leading the way. Having gained a foothold in the home 22, it was Ponty who broke the deadlock, scrum half Carl Thomas darting over from the base of a scrum to score a try which Flanagan converted with 25 minutes gone.
The visitors’ pack was now in forward gear, driving on from an attacking line-out with lock Cory Hill peeling off to charge over for a try which Flanagan again converted. Leeds regrouped and once more set up camp in their opponents’ half, applying intense pressure on a Ponty defensive line which ended with flanker Wayne O’Connor dispatched to the sin bin. From a catch and drive line out, the home pack powered over the line for lock Matt Smith to claim a try which outside half Joe Ford converted from a wide angle to bring up an interval score of 7-14.
Ponty were guilty of committing errors to hand Leeds the initiative as the second half commenced. The home pack kept up its superiority in the set pieces, applying concerted pressure on the visitors’ line which eventually told as scrum half Craig Hampson sniped over for a close range try which Ford converted.
Ponty struck back immediately through a Flanagan penalty with Leeds outside half Joe Ford yellow carded for infringing soon after. The Ponty outside-half then stroked over another penalty to ease his side’s lead on the hour.
Leeds responded by forging a path upfield, spurning kicks at goal to advance right up to their opponent’s line and from another attacking line out, replacement Matt Clark drove over for a try wide out.
The game was finely balanced as the clock ticked down before Ponty seized the initiative. Following a break by centre Gavin Dacey, skipper Chris Dicomidis charged over for a crucial score which Flanagan again converted.
The pendulum swung back Leeds’ when winger Jamel Chisholm crossed for a try. The home team piled on the pressure but were up against an obstinate Ponty defence, who then secured a vital turnover to lift the siege.
Making one last incursion into the Leeds half, Ponty sealed their victory as Flanagan kicked an injury time penalty to notch up a final score line of 24-30.
