Inspired Pontypridd kept up their challenge to finish in the top five places in the Welsh-Scottish Premier Division with this crushing victory over leaders Bridgend.

The Ravens stay on top of the table thanks to a one-try advantage over buoyant Swansea.

Pontypridd's trump card was again outside-half Lee Jarvis who had a 21-point tally that included one try, two conversions and four penalties.

Pontypridd started at a cracking pace, shooting into the lead after three minutes with a superb try from Lee Jarvis.

A magnificent handling move by the backs and forwards started in their own half saw John Colderley feed Jarvis in the 22, who dummied to leave the defence helpless and crossed under the posts before converting.

Davey try

In the 16th minute Pontypridd increased their lead with another splendid try.

Jarvis put a huge kick deep into the 22 where Brett Davey gathered to cross near the corner.

Davey is likely to win the full-back berth for the Wales development squad after the bad injury suffered by fellow-squad member Paul Jones at Swansea.

With both sides moving the ball at a fast pace play continued to be exciting, but solid defence prevented likely scores.

Near the interval Bridgend were awarded a penalty try, converted by Craig Warlow, and Ponty's Paul Graham was sin-binned.

The gap was cut to 15-10 in Ponty's favour at the interval.

Second-half surge

On the restart Pontypridd increased their lead in the first minute with a 28-metre penalty from Lee Jarvis.

Warlow responded with his second drop-goal for Bridgend.

Chris Stephens was sin-binned for Bridgend and Lee Jarvis increased Ponty's hold with two penalties.

A penalty try for Ponty was converted by Jarvis.

In the closing stages Pontypridd piled on the pressure and added another try with an interception by Colderley that Davey converted.

There was a late consolation try by Warlow, who scored all the points for the visitors.

Sonny Parker

Pontypridd's New Zealand-born centre Sonny Parker spoke after the game about how the club's experience in the Heineken Cup had helped them in this encounter.

He said that Ponty's players came into the game with increased aggression thanks to high-quality games against the likes of Pau and Leicester.

The dry conditions also helped the performance:

"Conditions were a lot better than the last couple of weeks... today we threw the ball around," he said.

Parker was proud after his call-up to the Wales development squad, though he acknowledged it was "strange" when he was not yet qualified to represent the full national side.

Scorers - Pontypridd: Tries: Penalty, B Davey, J Colderley, L Jarvis. Cons: Davey, Jarvis 2. Pens: Jarvis 4

Bridgend: Tries: C Warlow, Penalty. Cons: Warlow 2. Drop Goals: Warlow 2

Teams - Pontypridd: B Davey, L Woodard, S Parker, J Lewis, J Colderley, L Jarvis, P John (capt), C Loader, J Evans, P Graham, R Sidoli, B Cockbain, D McIntosh, R Parks, M Owen
Replacements: R Neville, J Bryant, C Sweeney, N Ta'u, F Vunipola, W James, M Lloyd

Bridgend: A Durston, G Jones, S Taumalolo, J Devereux, D Jones, C Warlow, H Harries (capt), R Price, C Ferris, L Mustoe, P Clapham, C Stephens, M Molitika, J Ringer, R Bryan
Replacements: G Cull, B Baker, J Hewlett, C Noon, A Joy, O Lloyd, S van Rensburg

Ref: Nigel Williams (Bryncoch)

Att: 5,000