Pontypridd District Under 12's played their Rhondda counterparts on Friday 13th January at Llanharan RFC, in a tense nail bitter of a match.
The atmosphere before kick-off was like a cup final and being held at Llanharan RFC gave the players a stage to match the occasion. This was the second meeting between the sides this season and it was obvious that the sides knew what to expect from the opposition. Starting at a frantic pace it was obvious that the game was going to be one of few chances and could be won or lost through one mistake. Pontypridd dominated territory in the 1st period and created some half chances. Jack Waite (Pontyclun RFC) showed glimpses of what gave him an East Wales cap last season and always threatened to break the stalemate.
Both sides had done their homework and nullified the threat of the usual suspects therefore it was time for both sides to find another game breaker. Rhondda were camped on their own try line for almost the whole of the first period, but managed to keep Pontypridd at bay right up until the final seconds of the half when Pontypridd's pack finally managed to pile over the Rhondda try line for scrum half Joel Raikes (Pontypridd RFC) to pick up and force his way over. Prominent for Rhondda in the first half were outside-half Bobi Sheppard (Ystrad Rhondda RFC), Rhondda captain James Parry (Treorchy RFC), wing Dale Hughes (Pontypridd RFC), flanker Dewi Walding (Treorchy RFC), along with centres Jack Faulkes (Porth Harlequins RFC) and Callum Phillips. Whilst for Pontypridd Rory Woodland, Jack Waite, Joel Raikes, Paul Minty (Porth Harlequins RFC) and Max Watkins (Llantwit Fardre RFC) looked impressive.
Half time Pontypridd 5 – Rhondda 0
In the second period much of the same continued to happen and it looked like it might be an ill-tempered affair but referee Paul Fears managed to keep control of both sets of players. With the game tittering on the edge it looked like the Pontypridd determination was going to pay off. A resurgent Rhondda was once again propelled forward by their captain James Parry and went on to dominate the rest of the game despite the best efforts of the huge Pontypridd midfield. The powerful Rhondda pack hammered their way into the Ponty territory only to be held out by stubborn defence, typified by home boy Simon Pring (Llanharan RFC), Max Watkins (Llantwit Fardre RFC) and Daniel Watts (Pontypridd RFC).
With the game drawing to a close both sets of coaches made changes to try and break the second half deadlock. It came down to the last play of the game with a Rhondda scrum in midfield ten meters into Ponty territory. The replacement scrum half for Rhondda Tom Williams (Treorchy RFC) picked up and scooted down the blind side catching the Ponty team off guard. Expertly drawing the winger he fed Dale Hughes a Pontypridd RFC player himself and with cover coming across Dale backed himself and beat the despairing dive of Max Watkins to dive in at the corner, a lesson in finishing for any winger. The kick was missed from a difficult position and the final whistle blew leaving the game a 5 all draw that was a fair result for all. The game was a great advert for rugby in the north of the region and both sides gave everything throughout.
During the match, up front it was a case of honours even between two very powerful aggressive packs, whilst in the backs it was the huge Pontypridd midfields power against Rhondda’s guile and determination. Pontypridd had the advantage of size in the midfield, with Rhondda having the advantage out wide with their fantastically quick wingers. But determined tackling along with a well organised rush defence by Rhondda nullified and frustrated the giant Pontypridd centre’s throughout the match. With such a huge battle up front and in midfield, there was little opportunity to get the ball out wide for Rhondda to take advantage of their superior pace. A draw was probably a fair result on the day in this highly intense and top class match.
Prominent for Pontypridd were Simon Pring (Llanharan RFC), Max Watkins (Llantwit Fardre RFC), Daniel Watts (Pontypridd RFC), Joshua Whiles-Pritchard (Pontypridd RFC), Rhys Taylor (Llantrisant RFC), Joel Raikes and Conor Gay (Llantwit Fardre RFC). Prominent for Rhondda in the second half were Tom Williams, Luke Rees (Treorchy RFC), Callum Roberts, Jack Dunning (Treorchy RFC) and Anthony Harris (Tonyrefail RFC). Praise should especially go the Rhondda midfield of Jack Faulkes, Callum Phillips, Anthony Harris and wing Dale Hughes who’s rush defence kept the huge Pontypridd midfield on the back-foot throughout the match.
Try Scorer for Pontypridd: Joel Raikes (Pontypridd RFC) Try Scorer for Rhondda: Dale Hughes (Pontypridd RFC)
Pontypridd District:
1. Tom James - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 2. Daniel Watts - Pontypridd RFC, 3. Paul Minty - Porth Harlequins RFC, 4. Jason Franklin - Llantrisant RFC, 5. Daniel Fletcher - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 6. Simon Pring - Llanharan RFC, 7. Rory Troake - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 8 Max Watkins - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 9. Joel Raikes - Pontypridd RFC, 10. Rhys Hughes - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 11. Rhys Taylor - Llantrisant RFC, 12. Rory Woodland - Pontyclun RFC, 13. Conor Gay - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 14. Josh Pritchard - Pontypridd RFC, 15. Jack Waite - Pontyclun RFC, 16. Daniel Walls - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 17. Morgan Edwards - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 18. Carl Hardy - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 19. David Hooper - Pontypridd RFC, 20. Josh Coleman - Porth Harlequins RFC, 21. Tom Fears - Llantwit Fardre RFC, 22. Conor Barret - Pentyrch RFC.
Rhondda District Squad:
1. Garyn Daniels - YGC Y Cymer, 2. Ethan Lewis - Treorchy Comp. / Treorchy RFC, 3. James Parry (c) - Treorchy Comp. / Treorchy RFC, 4. Connor Mitchinson - YGC Y Cymer, 5. Jack Dunning - Treorchy Comp. / Treorchy RFC, 6. Pheon Radford - YGC Y Cymer / Ystrad Rhondda RFC, 7. Dewi Walding - Treorchy Comp. / Treorchy RFC, 8. Meurig Davies - YGC Y Cymer / Ystrad Rhondda RFC, 9. Sam Jones - YGC Y Cymer / Ystrad Rhondda RFC, 10. Bobi Sheppard - YGC Y Cymer / Ystrad Rhondda RFC, 11. Dale Hughes - Porth County / Pontypridd RFC, 12. Jack Foulkes - Porth County / Porth Harlequins RFC, 13. Anthony Harris - Tonyrefail Comp. / Tonyrefail RFC, 14. Callum Roberts - YGC Y Cymer, 15. Luke Rees - YGC Y Cymer / Treorchy RFC, 16. Liam Rees - Porth County / Porth Harlequins RFC, 17. Rhys Johnson - YGC Y Cymer / Porth Harlequins RFC, 18. James Winter - Tonypandy Comp., 19. Callum Phillips - YGC Y Cymer, 20. Daniel Morris - YGC Y Cymer, 21. Bradley Watkins - YGC Y Cymer, 22. Liam Ashcroft - Tonyrefail Comp. / Tonyrefail RFC, 23. Ashley Jones - Tonypandy Comp., 24. Gavin Wood - Tonypandy Comp., 25. Jackson Huntley - Tonypandy Comp., 26. Richard Ingham - Ferndale Comp., 27. Tom Carbis - Ferndale Comp., 28 Aled Summerhill - Cymer Juniors/Treorchy RFC, 29 Tom Williams - Treorchy RFC.
[Numbers do not donate first or seconds, only starting positions in recent weeks. There is only one first team squad and all players are an equal part of that squad.]
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