The Welsh All Blacks put up a sterling performance against the Premiership pacesetters and were seconds away from causing a huge upset before former Wales Sevens star Webber put matters into his own hands to crush Neath hopes in the 79 minute.
Neath currently sit at the bottom of the points table but it was the home side who began the brighter at the Gnoll.
A break by outside half Iwan Evans gave Neath early momentum, flanker Jordan Collier then slicing through a retreating Ponty defence, his side going close to scoring on two occasions. The home side were persistent in attack, the ball whipped out wide for winger Ashley Evans to cross for a try.
Ponty responded with a concerted advance into the home 22, taking line-out ball and driving over for hooker Ashleigh James to claim a try which Ceri Sweeney converted.
The game was so far slow paced with the referee’s whistle prominent, but a Webber break in chasing a chip kick gave Ponty valuable momentum, the pack then drove relentlessly towards the home line. Pressure was turned into points as Ceri Sweeney kicked a penalty with 17 minutes gone.
Having repelled a brief Neath offensive Ponty then countered with centre Dafydd Lockyer pounding the midfield gain line, but a period of pressure coming to nothing. The contest just could not spark to life, errors and injury delays stemming the flow of play. The visitors again countered from within their own half with Dan Godfrey leading a charge, but every phase of play halted by the referee’s whistle.
Both teams in turn tried their hand in attack but neither able to fashion a breakthrough, with knock-on’s and forward passes prevalent. Neath applied concerted late pressure but were held out, a close fought if low key first half ending with Ponty edging a 6-10 lead.
Neath came straight out of the blocks as the second period commenced, centre Dean Howell powering through the visitors’ defence, the ball recycled for scrum half Tom James to snipe over for a try which Iwan Evans converted.
Ponty were striving hard to build up some momentum but the contest overall still a stop start affair dominated by the whistle, reflecting the high error count.
It was the home team who again managed some phases of attack, winger Dafydd Howells charging over but his try disallowed. Undaunted, Neath continued to pound the gain line, but held out by a last ditch Ponty defence, who then cleared when awarded a penalty. The visitors continued to advance, edging their way upfield against a stubborn All Black defence but conceding turnovers to yield the initiative.
The game was into its final quarter, evenly balanced but low on quality, advances made by both sides but all ending with the inevitable blast of the referee’s whistle. Ponty were able to poach opposition line-out ball but then kicking straight into touch, summing up the frustrations of the afternoon. The clock was in the meantime ticking away against Ponty’s efforts to strike back, with continuity a problem.
Winning penalty awards, Ponty finally made headway into the home twenty-two, but again unable to fashion a breakthrough. The visitors continued to press, with Neath No8 Calum Davies sin binned for infringing.
The Ponty pack drove relentlessly at their opponents, the ball then whipped out for Webber to cross for a dramatic try wide out.
Scorers: Neath: Tries: A. Evans, James; Con: I. Evans
Pontypridd: Tries: James, Webber; Con: Sweeney; Pen: Sweeney
