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Page 1 of 2 DISTRICT RUGBY - Friday 29 September 2006 Under 12's Pontypridd 17 - 20 Rhondda Under 13's Pontypridd 22 - 21 Rhondda
UNDER 12’S PONTYPRIDD 17 – 20 RHONDDA For their first game of the season, Rhondda Schools Under 12’s visited their neighbours Pontypridd to play in what proved a very exciting encounter. From the kick off, the Rhondda boys took the game to Pontypridd with the forwards and backs blending superbly. After only five minutes scrum half and captain - Tom Williams (Treorchy Comprehensive) showed great awareness and support to round off a flowing move under the posts. Rhondda kept this momentum up and from a scrum on the opposition ten yard line, outside-half Aled Summerhill (Porth County Comprehensive) made a searing break, rounded the full back to touchdown and earn the team a well deserved second try. The next period saw Rhondda press the Pontypridd line, but great defensive work by Pontypridd denied Rhondda a further score. Pontypridd then showed what they are made of by scoring a good opportunist try just before half time. The second half started with a bang resulting in another try from Pontypridd – the game was now evenly poised. It was Pontypridd however, that took the initiative by scoring a good try after creating a lot of pressure near the Rhondda line. Rhondda immediately responded positively and nearly scored on numerous occasions, it was prominent wing Declan Alley (Cymmer Comprehensive) that was to score the teams’ third try. The forwards were now taking the upper hand with number eight Bradley Llewellen (Cymmer Comprehensive) and open side Jamie Allen (Tonypandy Comprehensive) very prominent, that laid the foundations for Rhondda’s final try scored by Connor Lawrence (Tonyrefail Comprehensive) who sprinted 45 yards to finish. The players’ joy was great to see when the final whistle was blown; this had been a great team effort and bodes well for the future. Coaches Chris Jones and Neil Boobyer would like to thank all the boys for their commitment, and Pontypridd Schools for their hospitality. Photos of both games here: Ponty v Rhondda photos UNDER 13's Pontypridd 22 - 21 Rhondda The last match between these two was a very tough and intense encounter that ended in a draw, this match proved no easier with only one point separating the sides at the end. For the first quarter of the match Pontypridd were in complete control and it looked like being a long night for the Rhondda. Utilising their much bigger backs to good effect, Pontypridd scored two sparkling tries during this period, the first by winger Josh Pritchard (Pontypridd RFC) who showed excellent finishing after good work by centre Rory Woodland (Pontyclun RFC) to create an overlap for Josh to exploit with his fantastic pace. The second try was by Daniel Fletcher (Llantwit Fardre) who barged over after some good forward play by the Pontypridd pack, with the try converted by Rhys Hughes (Llantwit Fardre). Ponty took a deserving 12 – 0 lead. Despite being on the rack for a long period, Rhondda finally started to come into the game in the second quarter, thanks to some stern tackling in the midfield by inside centre Callum Phillips and strong forwards play by the pack. Rhondda’s fight-back was lead by Captain James Parry (Treorchy RFC), scrum-half Sam Jones (Ystrad Rhondda) and hooker Ethan Lewis (Treorchy RFC). Sharp handling by Rhondda eventually saw the ball spread quickly to winger Dale Hughes (Pontypridd RFC) who showed great strength, along with pace to wrong-foot and then round the Pontypridd defence to score a fantastic try that was converted by Bobi Sheppard (Ystrad Rhondda). Galvanised by the try, Rhondda started to show glimpses of what they are capable of, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Pontypridd scoring another try by their giant centre Rory Woodland. Despite this setback Rhondda started to successfully mark the huge Pontypridd centres out of the game. With his pack starting to take control, Rhondda scrum-half Sam Jones picked up and went from the base of a scrum to score a fine opportunist try that was successfully converted by Bobi Sheppard for a half time score of 17 – 14 to Pontypridd. The second half saw Pontypridd start to dominate again, with Steffan Jenkins (Pontypridd RFC), Paul Minty (Porth Harlequins) and Michael Connor (Pontypridd RFC) prominent in the pack. Their dominance saw a struggling Rhondda concede a penalty ten metres out. Buoyed with confidence Pontypridd chose to run the ball and eventually the hugely impressive Michael Connor forced his way through a crowded defence to score a fine forwards try to give Pontypridd a 22 – 14 lead. After a group huddle and a polite word from their coach Chris Jones, Rhondda finally stepped up an extra gear that saw them go on to control the rest of the match. Eventually their resilience was awarded with a first district try for Callum Niblutt (Tonyrefail) that was successfully converted by inside-centre Callum Phillips to put Rhondda within a point. With time running out Rhondda threw everything at Pontypridd, but some excellent defence saw Rhondda held up short, time after time. In the last move of the match the impressive Jack Foulkes fed Dale Hughes, who not for the first time forced his way through several defenders before being brought down just short of the line with a foot forced into touch. Outstanding for Rhondda in the second half were Ethan Sherlock (Ystrad Rhondda) and Liam Rees (Porth Harlequins), whilst for Pontypridd Rory Woodland, Rhys Hughes (Llantwit Fardre) and Josh Pritchard were impressive.. This was one of those matches where neither side deserved to lose, but proved an excellent win by Pontypridd who certainly dominated the early exchanges, though Rhondda proved the stronger side the longer the match went on and were unlucky not to win it at the death. There were plenty of positives for both sides to take away from the match and every player should be proud of their performance in a match that was a fantastic advert for junior rugby in Wales. TRY Scorers for Pontypridd: Josh Pritchard (Pontypridd RFC), Daniel Fletcher (Llantwit Fardre RFC), Michael Connor (Pontypridd RFC) and Rory Woodland (Pontyclun RFC). Rhys Hughes (Llantwit Fardre) kicked one conversion. TRY Scorers for Rhondda: Dale Hughes (Pontypridd RFC), Sam Jones (Ystrad Rhondda RFC), and Callum Niblutt (Tonyrefail). Bobi Sheppard (Ystrad Rhondda) kicked 2 Conversions and Callum Phillips kicked one. Due to their fantastic performances Rhondda under 13's players James Parry, Ethan Lewi,s Callum Phillips and Dale Hughes were called up to represent Rhondda Under 14's the following Monday against Pontypridd District Under 14's. Where Pontypridd defeated a weakened Rhondda side by 31 points to nil. Pontypridd RFC Under 13's were represented in the Pontypridd District squad by our current captain Michael Connor, who had a typically aggressive match with his huge presence causing major problems for the Rhondda pack, topped off by scoring a deserving try. Pontypridd RFC’s gutsy firebrand of a flanker Steffan Jenkins made a nuisance of himself, winning the ball for Pontypridd time after time. Our deputy captain, the highly skilled Joel Raikes deputised at scrum half late in the game, only kept out of the starting line-up by a chest infection. On the wing for the district was our flying outside centre Josh Pritchard, who proved a handful for the Rhondda defence with his pace and strength that saw him score an impressive wingers try. Whilst in the Rhondda team we were represented by our top try scorer Dale Hughes, who again had an impressive game on the wing that earned him a starting place in the Rhondda Under 14's District side the following week. Though isolated in defence at times, Dale coped well against the bigger and faster Ponty backs; whilst scoring a fantastic try of his own. There were impressive performances by all the Pontypridd RFC players who participated,with three of our five players involved scoring deserving tries. The boys should all be proud of their performances as we the coaches and Pontypridd RFC are of each of them, Well Done...
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