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Page 1 of 2 The boys met on a miserable wet grey day which was not the ideal conditions for this season’s usual running rugby. The squads of both teams from all age groups lined up to preserve a minutes silence at 11 o clock and not a sound was heard for the full minute. Well done to all.
It was decided before kick off that rather than two 15 minute half’s there would be three periods of 10 minutes each. The game started with Mountain Ash kicking off and the ball went dead giving Ponty a scrum back on the half way line. Ponty won the ball and tried their usual style of running rugby by passing the ball along the back line but a loose pass saw Mountain Ash intercept the ball and run in for the games first try. The try was converted. From the restart Mountain Ash attacked but were penalised for a hand off, Ponty took a quick tap and Morgan Burgess broke through only to lose the ball just short of the line. Mountain Ash attacked from the scrum and pushed Ponty all the way back to their own try line and making Ponty concede a 5 meter scrum. From the scrum they got quick ball and crashed over to score which was also converted. From the restart Mountain Ash knocked the ball on and from the scrum a rolling maul was set up and Ben Kondella crashed over to score. Shawn Bowditch converted. End of the first period Ponty 7 Mountain Ash 14 Ponty started the second period and as Mountain Ash had done in the first period kicked the ball dead giving the visitors a scrum on the half way line but the good attacking position was wasted when they knocked on. Ponty got good quick ball from the scrum and fed the ball to Morgan Burgess who broke through a couple of tackles but knocked on trying to offload the pass for what would have been a certain try. From the resulting scrum a good move saw Mountain Ash ship the ball out wide and the winger had a clear run to score in the corner. The try was converted. Ponty came back into the game but strong defence from Mountain Ash kept them out. Ponty had a penalty and as is custom for the boys they took a quick one and passed the ball out wide to Lewis Allen but a good tackle saw him pushed into touch. End of the second period Ponty 7 Mountain Ash 21. The Ponty coaches had a word with the boys and what a difference it made going into the final period. What was now becoming the norm Ponty had a scrum on the half way line as the ball did not go 10 meters from the kick off. Ponty moved the ball wide from the scrum and a good jinking run from Shawn Bowditch saw him make good ground but was tackled into touch just short of the try line. From the resulting line out Mountain Ash kicked up field but a good catch and run from Shawn Bowditch saw his time his pass to Morgan Pritchard who powered over to score which he also converted. From the restart Ponty caught the ball and attacked from deep first with Lucas Hickman who jinked in and out before offloading to Mason Pritchard who went over for his second try. Ponty continued to dominate the final period and a good move saw them held up just short but forced Mountain Ash into conceding a penalty. A quick tap by Mason Pritchard saw him crash over the line but although held up managed to pop the ball to Greggor McKain who flopped over the line to score. Converted by Callum Pearce. Continued pressure from Ponty saw them march up field and with the last move of the match set up a rolling maul and from 5 meters out Rhys “Galloping” Grainger came flying out to crash over for the final try of the game. Converted by Lewis Allen. Final Score: Ponty 33 Mountain Ash 21 Scorers: Tries: Mason Pritchard 2, Ben Kondella, Greggor McKain, Rhys Grainger Conversions: Sawn Bowditch, Mason Pritchard, Callum Pearce, Lewis Allen Team: Lucas Hickman (c) Ben Kondella, Greggor McKain, Adam Morris, Daniel Griffiths, Rhys Grainger, Liam Morton, Shawn Bowditch, Morgan Burgess, Adam Ashford, Callum Pearce, Lloyd Harris, Mason Pritchard, Lewis Allen, Gethin Llywellyn. Although starting off slow the boys showed their determination and fitness to finish the game well and also play expansive rugby even in poor conditions. Well done. The coaches decision for Man of the Match was Shawn Bowditch.
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