Ponty 9’s v Treorchy

The weather may have been cold and gloomy but following Wales heroic fight back and victory in Twickenham the mood was distinctly upbeat amongst the Ponty supporters this morning. These two teams had played each other in September and Ponty had won 35 points to nil, so confidence was high the team’s winning ways would be continued.

UNDER 9’s Pontypridd 5 - 0 Treorchy  

Jay ‘The Pocket Battleship’ Jones lined up his players to receive the kick off, the supporters clapping their hands in encouragement and stamping their feet to try and fend off the icy blast blowing across the pitch. Treorchy started well driving deep into the Ponty half, yet after a few minutes the boys pushed back their opponents and through a relentless series of rucks and mauls found themselves yards from the Treorchy try line.

Possibly it was the cold or maybe overconfidence but despite the coaches best encouragement Ponty couldn’t get their normal flowing passing game started, Passes went astray or were knocked on or the ball was lost in contact all at crucial moments. Then reality began to set in, it wasn’t so much Ponty couldn’t get their game going it was Treorchy weren’t allowing Ponty to play the way they wanted to. Despite the constant pressure on them, playing almost the entire game in their own half close to their tryline Treochy swarmed and tackled and played with such spirit and determination Ponty were seemingly unable to break through.

Time and again just as it seemed a score looked inevitable a Treorchy player would emerge to make a last ditch tackle to thwart their opponents. The game was a fascinating arm wrestle Ponty always in control always pressurising but unable to land the final blow. The commitment and courage of both sets of players was immense, the tackling fierce and competitive, the tension amongst the Ponty supporters and their admiration and appreciation for their opponents growing by the minute.

Finally with just two minutes of the game left the inexorable Ponty pressure proved too much and Jay Jones powered over from close range for the only score of the match and finally resolves what had been a titanic struggle.

Game 2 Pontypridd U9’s 30 Treorchy 0

The second game started where the first had left off, Treorchy determined to even the score, Pontypridd just as determined but a little more relaxed after winning the first game. This time they did manage to impose their game on their opponents with Owain ‘The Bulldozer’ Morris making a number of telling powerful runs opening space for his team mates to exploit with some fine shows of pace and skill. Dafydd Smith, Lloyd Owens and Jay Jones all crossed the line to put Ponty ahead 15 points to nil at half time.

Owain Morris himself then capped an excellent performance with a try shortly after half time and now the cold and fatigue started to take it’s toll on the Treorchy team, their tackling wasn’t quite as powerful, their covering not quite as sharp and Carl Blacker then Rhodri Smith added two final tries for Ponty.

The score line in the second match did not really reflect the tremendous improvement in the Treorchy team since the two sides first met, and all credit must go to the coaches and the players for the way the side has developed. Ponty again showed that despite a lack of cohesion at times they have the sheer will and determination to wear down and ultimately defeat their opponents.

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