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Page 1 of 2 Sunday morning saw Pontypridd travel to a rather drizzly Pencoed for the two teams third meeting this season, but the first at Pencoed. The previous matches had been entertaining and tough encounters and whilst the supporters were eagerly looking forward to this match, they raised a rather muted cheer as the players took the field, no doubt many suffering from too much celebration following Wales’ second half demolition of Italy the previous day!
Captain Griff ‘Greased Lightning’ Lloyd elected to kick off knowing his team had to improve on their two previous outings to avoid their first defeat of the season. The game started very much as the previous two had, Pencoed a bigger more physical side pushed back Ponty who seemed unable to get possession of the ball, and even when they did seemed unable to feed it along the line and utilise the pace they have in abundance throughout the team. Over the past few weeks, Ponty may have lost some of their cohesion, but, their determination is as strong as ever, and gradually they fought their way back into the game, their tackling as effective as ever, their swarming defence gaining parity with Pencoed, when, to the Pencoed’s supporters sheer delight a breakdown from a maul enabled a Pencoed player to take advantage of the lack of cover and put the home team ahead. In fairness it was nothing less than Pencoed deserved, and half time saw a lot of worried looks on the Ponty faces, they hadn’t been playing well, they were up against a good side and they were 1-0 down! The second half started and straight away Pencoed kicked deep straight to Griff ‘Greased Lightning’ Lloyd who leading by example showed his pace and skill to scythe through Pencoed and level the scores. This signalled a shift in the game and now Ponty were full of confidence and it was their turn to press their opponents back and harry and chase them to keep them pinned in their own half. They began to hit the rucks and mauls and began to try and move the ball all too often though for the final pass to go astray. Pencoed now showed their metal as well tackling and competing and striving to weather the storm. Ponty pressure was inexorable, but try as they might they just couldn’t find a way across the line and the final whistle signalled some relief for Pencoed and some disappointment for Ponty. Game 2 As in the previous meeting this season the teams had arranged to play two games to allow the whole squad to join in. This time it was captain Dafydd Smith’s turn to proudly lead out his players. There was a slight delay whilst Pencoed reduced the numbers in their team from 11 to 10, obviously reflecting the commendable enthusiasm in their whole squad to want to play! From the start however, it was apparent that Ponty now had momentum and belief gained from the previous match, and it was they who pressed forward, again pinning their hosts back in their own half. Their endeavour paid off when Griff ‘Greased Lighning’ Lloyd again burst through the Pencoed defence to put Ponty ahead, followed a minute later by Kiellan Mahoney, shortly before half time. The second half started in much the same fashion, and when Lloyd Owens scored Ponty’s third, the Ponty supporters showed their apparent relief at the thought of another victory. In the previous meetings when Ponty have gained the upper hand, a number of heads on the Pencoed side had dropped. In this case though, the third try signalled yet another turn in the tide of the game. Pencoed game back stronger than ever showing tremendous character, they raised their performance higher and were justly rewarded with a try of their own. Pencoed now enjoyed the upper hand and pushed forward at every opportunity pinning Ponty back in their own half, desperately trying to break the Ponty defence who now realised the game isn’t won until the final whistle and concentration is needed until the very end of the match. As it was, Pencoed ran out of time and the referee signalled the end of yet another absorbing and bruising encounter between the two sides.
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