The latest outing for the Under 16's was a tough local derby away to Beddau. With both sides knowing each other well, this was always going to be a typical derby game with no quarter asked or given.
Pontypridd started well and with the big forwards making the hard yards, it was only brave defensive work from Beddau that stopped Pontypridd from opening the scoring. The first 15 minutes was all pressure from Pontypridd but despite their possession and territorial dominance they couldn't break down the Beddau defence.
Beddau seemed to have weathered the storm and when their clearance kick was fumbled just over the half way line, Beddau were awarded their first scrum in Pontypridd territory. From the resultant scrum, Ponty Hooker Sam Oliver, managed a great steal against the head, allowing no 8 Dean Maissey to pick up and drive at the disorganised Beddau back line. When Maissey was tackled, the Pontypridd back row of Dafydd Gristock and Alun Thomas won good quick ruck ball, and spun the ball out wide, allowing the centre pairing of Lewis Egal and Jarod Scaplehorn to put full back Rhys Simms over in the corner for the opening try, that went unconverted.
Ponty resumed the pressure straight from kick off, with fly half Smith collecting the kick off and using the wind to place an excellent return kick deep in the Beddau 22, that the Beddau full back Liam Kumar was forced to take into touch. Ponty called a short line out, excellently collected by lock Gareth Capelin, who was driven over by the pack for Pontypridd's second try against his former club, which was again unconverted.
This spurred Beddau into action and a series of needless penalties conceded by Ponty allowed Beddau their first attacking position in the Ponty half. Beddau drove deep into the Ponty half, but the defence held firm and Dafydd Gristock turned over possession to allow Smith to kick long and clear the Pontypridd lines. Sadly poor discipline by Pontypridd resulted in the referee awarding a Penalty to Beddau for use of bad language, however the Beddau Fly half Rhys Truelove was narrowly wide with the kick, to end the half 0-10.
The second half was marred by a number of ugly off the ball incidents that threatened to ruin the game. Fortunately local referee Gareth Francis took prompt action and sensibly gave a lengthy lecture to both sets of forwards and Captains, to nullify the danger.
Although Pontypridd continued to dominate both possession and territory, poor handling was preventing them from adding to the score. At this point backs coach Mike Kelleher, introduced replacement centre Tom Newberry, who has missed most of the season with a serious leg injury. Although playing at outside rather than his favoured inside position, Newberry's direct powerful running soon caused problems for the tiring Beddau midfield who were struggling to tackle him. His first break should have resulted in a try, however an excellent tackle from Beddau fullback Kumar stopped Newberry 10 metres short, and Pontypridd wing Parker unfortunately fumbled what could have been an easy try.
Only minutes later Newberry repeated the break, and this time powered through the full back for a try under the posts converted by Simms, to put the game beyond Beddau. Newberry was not finished yet though, and yet another superb break straight between the Beddau centres, caused panic in the Beddau defence. A brilliant cover tackle brought Newberry down 10 metres short, but replacement flanker Ben Miles and lock Gareth Capelin were first to the breakdown and desperately tried to dig the ball out to launch another attack, however referee Francis awarded a Pontypridd scrum.
Excellent pressure from the Pontypridd front row of Perry, Brown and replacement hooker Cai Daniels, drove the Beddau pack back whilst cleverly wheeling the scrum to allow no 8 Dean Maissey to pick up and drive through the despairing tackle of the Beddau scrum half for the games final try under the posts. Full back Simms converted to end the game Beddau 0, Pontypridd 24.
Try Scorers for Pontypridd: Rhys Simms, Gareth Capelin, Tom Newberry and Dean Maissey.
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