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Page 1 of 2 From ponty.net: Match report Monday, 26 . September 2005 (14:02): Pontypridd U16s 41 - 0 Newport HSOB
On Sunday 25th September, the Pontypridd under 16's, who were devastated by injuries and representative duties, took a scratch squad down to Newport.
Ponty had 9 players unavailable for this fixture including every prop in the squad, and other key players including our first choice goalkicker, scrum half, fullback and line out lifters.
 With prior agreement the Newport coach and referee kindly allowed the game to continue with passive scrummaging, and the scratch Ponty squad faced a daunting task especially in the lineout against a big Newport pack.
Ponty, under captain Dean Maissey, cleverly changed their tactics and instead of their usual powerful scrum, maul and driving lineout game, switched to a high tempo loose rucking game, with the ball quickly spread wide at every opportunity, forcing the big Newport pack about the field.
Man of the Match Dafydd Gristock
At the line outs, despite having significantly smaller targets, Ponty varied the calls, shortening the line out at every opportunity and introducing a variety of set training ground plays, and quick throws to confuse the opposition.
Ponty had to weather considerable early pressure and brave tackling from Owain Kingsbury out wide, and Sam Oliver at a close range lineout saved certain Newport tries. However after a torrid ten minutes, Ponty managed to settle and with the back row in inspirational form, they started to dominate loose play, with openside Dafydd Gristock having an outstanding game proving the undisputed of man of the match.
With this quality loose ball, scrum half Rhys Ashman was consistently launching attack after attack, and with flyhalf Smith and centres Jarod Scaplehorn and Aaron Steverson moving the ball quickly to the wings, it was inevitable that the Newport defence would break.
Ponty playing the game at a furious pace, started rattling up the scores, with wing Steven Parker scoring a hat trick. Blindside flanker Mike Davies had yet another impressive game, regularly turning over Newport possession, and causing havoc in their defence when he counterattacked, with his intelligent angles of running and support play.
Replacement centres and wing, Tom Newberry, Dan Jordan and Lewis Williams continued to punish Newport with their hard running and quick hands, and with Scaplehorn dominating the midfield with a fantastic individual display it was no surprise that Ponty ended up running in 7 tries without reply, for a final score of 41 - nil.
The coaches would like to thank all the supporters who travelled to Newport, and all the squad players, like Dafydd Griffiths, Rhys Ashman, Tom Newberry, Max Padfield and Owain Kingsbury, who despite little action in recent weeks, stepped in and put in impressive performances to provide real competition for places for next weeks game. Well done lads.
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