John counters the spirit of Dunvant

Pontypridd maintained their leadership of the Welsh-Scottish League yesterday, but were made to work hard by a spirited Dunvant performance. Cardiff moved back into second place, running in six tries against Bridgend.

Pontypridd maintained their leadership of the Welsh-Scottish League yesterday, but were made to work hard by a spirited Dunvant performance. Cardiff moved back into second place, running in six tries against Bridgend.

It was the scrum-half Paul John who led the way for Pontypridd by scoring two tries, one in each half, while the full-back Brett Davey added 13 points with his boot.

Pontypridd had opened the scoring in the seventh minute when the centre John Colderley cut through. The flanker Jan Machachek added a second from close range then, with Dunvant reduced to 14 men after the second row Mark Glover was sent to the sin-bin for ball killing, John capitalised on home indecision to cross.

Dunvant began the second half in spirited fashion and were rewarded when the hooker Slade McFarland ploughed over one minute after the re-start. However, the respite was shortlived as John pounced for his second and at 28-10 it was a long way back for Dunvant.

A close-range try by the flanker Anthony Thomas and a second penalty by the outside-half Simon Daniel offered some hope but a try by Ian Gough and a penalty try sealed what was in the end a comfortable victory for Pontypridd.

In Cardiff, Rob Howley began the scoring with a try against his former club and then sparked a move which climaxed in a long pass by the outside-half Paul Burke for Craig Morgan to score.

Bridgend's only try was touched down by the flanker Jamie Ringer, who was released by Cardiff two months ago. Cardiff responded with a brilliant handling move rounded off again by Morgan, before Burke sent the prop Spencer John racing through for a rare try. The teenager Ryan Powell, on as a replacement for Howley, made sure for Cardiff with two late tries.