Pontypridd breathe easy

Pontypridd 34 Glasgow 28

Welsh rugby needed Pontypridd to reveal true grit and put one over the Scots, but they had to dig deep to prevent Glasgow compiling a hat-trick of wins on their travels to the Principality this season in the Celtic League.

In characteristic fashion, Jason White kept the best till last, with two tries in the final five minutes to cut the deficit to six points and pick up a bonus point. It was some compensation for losing their unbeaten record in round five, while victory for the home team kept them in touch for a quarter-final spot.

Ponty's trip to Galloway next week to face the only unbeaten team left in the tournament, Connacht, now looks like being a defining moment in Pool B.

Where Glasgow find their last reserves of energy is baffling. Seemingly down and out at Newport, they rallied to score 22 points in 12 minutes to come back at Rodney Parade, with tries from Stuart Moffatt and the replacement back Andrew Wilson almost allowing them to sneak in again at Sardis Road.

But Glasgow were unable to remain convincing throughout. Having shipped two tries in the first half they then conceded two more in 10 minutes in the second half and the game was in the bag for the home side.

What has really shocked the Welsh teams this season has been the ability of all three Scottish districts to spread the ball wide and keep the game alive. Ponty's backline certainly had their work cutout to cope with Calvin Howarth and Tommy Hayes.

Hayes' switch to centre has brought a new dimension to Glasgow, while the arrival of the scrapping Moffatt as fullback has provided a stronger cutting edge.

Not that Ponty are short of ideas. Sonny Parker is playing well enough at centre to be considered an international in waiting once he completes his three-year residential qualification. But it was up-front that won Ponty the game. The home pack were in dogged mood, driving hard at the bigger Glasgow eight.

Davis's stand-in hooker, Matthew Reese, took only four minutes to notch the game's first try and there was a pushover score for the No8 Michael Owen to celebrate 10 minutes from time, Glasgow then charging in with two tries too late .

Glasgow suffered through losing Jon Petrie to the sin-bin for obstruction after 58 minutes. No sooner was had he gone to the touchline than Sweeney romped over the line for a try.

Pontypridd: B Davey; G Wyatt, S Parker, J Lewis, E Lewis; C Sweeney, P John (capt); G Jenkins, M Rees, D Bell, B Cockbain, R Sidoli, N Kelly, W O'Connor, M Owen.

Glasgow: S Moffat; J Steel, A Bulloch, T Hayes, A Henderson; C Howarth, G Beveridge; D Hilton, B Daly, L Harrison, A Hall (N Ross 15), J White (capt), G Simpson, J D Macfadyen, J Petrie.

Referee: R Maybank (Eng).