The win means Dale McIntosh’s side are now just two points behind leaders Bedwas with two games in hand.
Llandovery enjoyed a lion’s share of the early possession, their outside half James Garland pulling a kickable penalty wide in the first minute.
Despite a good start from the visitors, the home team were able to counter at pace, gaining field position for outside half Simon Humberstone to drill over a penalty with nine minutes gone. Garland responded with a successful penalty of his own straight from the restart to level the score.
It was Pontypridd who were able to generate the greater momentum though as they looked to move the ball at pace. Their fluency was stemmed by the referee’s whistle but another Humberstone penalty eventually put them back into the lead.
Llandovery once more made headway into the Ponty half but were given short shrift by a resolute home defence, which was turned into attack with a breakaway counter led by galloping lock Chris Dicomidis. The Ponty pack set up a series of drives deep into opposition territory before the ball was whipped out for centre Gavin Dacey to cross for a try under the posts. Humberstone converted.
The referee’s whistle was still a dominant factor as Llandovery lock Bryn Griffiths was consigned to the sin bin. And Ponty took full advantage in generating a sweeping backs move, rounded off with a try in the corner scored by winger Owen Williams for an interval lead of 18-3.
Ponty began the second period in positive mood, playing through numerous phases but then conceded points to a Garland penalty. The visitors were piling on the pressure, but the Ponty defenders were making every tackle count during a sustained rearguard action with second row Craig Locke shown a yellow card for his efforts.
The Drovers were working off a strong scrum platform, keeping play in the home half but spurning valuable points as replacement fly half Cerith Rees scuffed a penalty opportunity. Pressure eventually told as the home defence was breached out wide, Llandovery winger Chris Knight going over for a try.
Ponty responded with a drive upfield for Humberstone to confidently strike a successful penalty at goal, his opposite number Rees then missing two kickable penalty attempts of his own.
The home defence doggedly held out going into injury time, an ironic cheer raised by the crowd as the game ended with a rare penalty awarded to Pontypridd, the victors by 21-11.
