Pontypridd U9’s 15 Ystrad Rhondda 5

The squad was missing a number of players and the team would be match rusty, would 2008 start with a defeat or could Ponty defy the odds and continue their fine run of form? The sun for a change was shining but the wind was brisk and chilling as Rhys ‘Little’ Britton led out the Ponty team to receive the kick off, amidst the cheers of encouragement from both sets of supporters.

Ystrad surged into the Ponty half, their swarming defence and spirited tackling keeping Ponty pinned back not allowing them to make any forward progress. Rucks and mauls were won and lost by both sides as slowly Ponty managed to make some headway to 5 metres from the Ystrad line, when suddenly, an Ystrad player sprinted down the sideline showing tremendous pace leaving the Ponty defenders flailing in his wake, only to be judged to have dropped the ball over the try line. 

The try would have been fully deserved by Ystrad and served to be a wake up call for Ponty the players now started to show the determination and resolve that has been their hallmark all season.  From the re-start on their own line Ponty tried to work as a team, going through the phases, always looking to spread the ball wide and inject some pace, Ystrad’s tackling was probably the finest Ponty had encountered all season, the two sides equally matched both in technique and physique putting on a fascinating and absorbing game for the spectators.

Ponty’s progress was slow but remorseless and finally after 6 minutes, the ball was quickly recycled and Kiellan Mahoney crossed in the corner for Ponty’s first amidst a huge sigh of relief from the supporters. The relief proved to be short lived however as Ystrad roared back and made sure the game was all-square by half time. The tension on the sidelines was palpable at the start of the second half, yet Ponty were improving with each passing minute, their resolve now being matched by the flowing rugby they continued to try and play.

The rustiness of the second half disappearing, their aggressive defence returning and eventually half way through the second half Lloyd Owens crossed for Ponty’s second. The resolve and confidence of Ystrad was now shaken, and despite their best efforts Ponty were exerting more and more pressure, Ystrad confined to trying to break from deep in their own half. Finally, Jay ‘The Battleship’ Jones made the game safe with Ponty’s third, and then seconds later was judged to have dropped the ball whilst touching down for what would have been Ponty’s fourth try.

There is no doubt the Ponty team were in dire need of a competitive match after their long enforced lay off, and in Ystrad they met a team that provided one of the toughest tests of the season so far. The squad numbers may have been down but again Ponty showed that whoever takes the field is more than capable of putting in a performance to match their opponents.

Normally in each game there are one of two key individual players who stand out, in this match the whole team tackled, rucked, mauled and passed their hearts out, their individual desire and sheer willpower not to be beaten translated into a fine all round team performance.

Comments (1)

	1. 29-01-2008 15:42
	Coach Well done boys, proud of you. Good start for 2008. Keep up the good work. Guest

Richard Barnes

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