Dale McIntosh’s side went into the game having not played for a number of weeks and their eagerness to get back on the field saw them run in six tries in a 36-3 win.
Adam Thomas got the scoreboard ticking with a try inside two minutes and from there on in, it was only the home side who looked like being the winners. Outside half Simon Humberstone floated a well-judged cross kick towards Thomas and the centre gathered for an early score.
The home team were showing aggression in defence, enterprise in attack and tactical awareness with Humberstone controlling the game.
With the game being played almost exclusively in the Neath half, it was no surprise when winger Chris Clayton made the critical midfield break to score another try.
A rare incursion by Neath into home territory was rewarded when outside half Dean Cummins hoisted over a penalty but Ponty retaliated with another flowing offensive move. Lock Chris Dicomidis was the beneficiary, Geraint Walsh converting his score from a wide angle.
Pontypridd were dominant, Adam Thomas going close in the corner and lock Cory Hill having a score disallowed for a dubious double movement. Any attempts by Neath to contest the game were stemmed at source by a hard grafting Ponty defence and winger Matthew Nuthall soon crossed for the bonus point try to give his team a 24-3 interval lead.
Neath applied some early second half pressure but their cautious advances into the home twenty-two were repelled. Ponty, working off a solid scrum platform, soon regained momentum, a series of close range charges culminating in a try claimed by No. 8 Dan Godfrey.
The game was becoming bogged down in the wet conditions but a dynamic break by replacement Craig Locke gave Ponty further impetus upfield.
Neath battled hard but the last word was rightfully Pontypridd’s as replacement scrum half Carl Thomas sniped off the base of a ruck to claim a sixth try.
Fellow substitute Dai Flanagan added the conversion for a convincing home win.
