Sunday 12th March Pontypridd Under 16's will have a huge away game at Gloucester Academy whom they defeated at Sardis earlier in the season.
Under 16’s Pontypridd 31 - 10 Garndiffaith
The Under 16's recently entertained Garndiffaith at home. Pontypridd had already taken the honours against Garn away in a close game and were looking to complete a creditable double against tough opponents. But unfortunately a number of the Garn players were unavailable and they were forced to borrow a wing and flanker from Pontypridd.
Once again Ponty started strongly with a brilliant back row move by Alun Thomas taking Ponty deep into the Garn defence, where Thomas offloaded to the supporting no.8 Dean Maissey. Dean powered into the twenty-two until he was eventually stopped, but in text book fashion the outstanding openside flanker Dafydd Gristock was on hand to take a difficult pass and cross the try line for the opening try that was converted by Alun Thomas.
With props Kyle Perry and Marc Jones making the hard yards whilst closely supported by James Dunne along with Richard Powell, it was clear Garndiffaith were in for a difficult day. So it wasn't long before another forward drive up the right wing led to team Captain Dean Maissey getting his first try that was this time converted by Rhys Simms.
With his breathtaking pace, it wasn't long before winger Rhys Simms also got in on the scoring sheet after he led a tremendous counter attack that saw him ghost past tackler after tackler before crossing the try line wide out for an unconverted score.
Garndiffaith seemed shell-shocked and nearly conceded another try to Simms if it hadn't been for a crunching tackle by Pontypridd Flanker Ben Miles who had been loaned to for Garndiffaith for the first half. With half time approaching exciting fly-half Lewis Smith decided to put on a show, and using a whole host of tricks, dummied and sidestepped his way from his own twenty-two through the Garndiffaith cover to race away for a brilliant individual try. Once again Simms was on target with the conversion to take the half time score to 26 - 0.
With the Coaches having one eye on the European Tournament in Belgium that Pontypridd will be competing in during April, it was decided to ring the changes at half time and rest several key players. Though with a host of injuries to Garndiffaith some key players actually ended up playing for the opposition, these included Rhys Simms, Dafydd Gristock and Alun Thomas. Their good will in volunteering to play for Garndiffaith in the second half, allowed their team mates Owain Kingsbury and Ben Miles to rejoin the Pontypridd ranks for the second half.
The Second half saw Garndiffaith storm back into the game, and with Gristock and Thomas causing their former Ponty team mates no end of problems, it wasn't long before Simms raced away for his second try of the game, only this time in the Red of Garndiffaith ! The try went unconverted.
This stung Pontypridd into action, and replacement Flanker Dafydd Griffiths put in a ferocious hit on the Garn hooker who spilled possession allowing Pontypridd to launch a counter attack through Nathaniel Williams and Gareth Capelin. When Capelin was brought down in the Garn twenty-two, Pontypridd recycled the ball, but it was slow ball that saw the Garn defence well organised. So replacement prop Dean Brown picked up and drove hard to suck in their defence. This time the ball was won quickly and spun wide for No8 Dean Maissey to pop up between the centres to cross for his second try that went unconverted.
With centres Jarod Scaplehorn and Dan Jordan along with hooker Cai Daniels putting in some ferocious tackling for Ponty, it looked as though Garn were destined to only get the one score. However with only minutes to go, Garns Pontypridd contingent Dafydd Gristock and Alun Thomas turned over Pontypridd possession, quickly moving the ball to their powerful centre who crossed out wide for the games final try that again was unconverted.
A special vote of thanks from the coaches to Owain Kingsbury, Lewis Williams, Ben Miles, Rhys Simms, Alun Thomas and Dafydd Gristock who all gave exemplary performances in the half’[s they played for Pontypridd and when they featured for Garndiffaith. In particular Dafydd Gristock and Alun Thomas deserve a special mention, as not only were they the pick of the Pontypridd players on the day, but the Garndiffaith coaches felt their performances for Garn in the second half worthy of the Garndiffaith man of the match awards.
Try Scorers for Pontypridd: Dafydd Gristock, Dean Maissey (2), Rhys Simms and Lewis Smith.
Alun Thomas kicked one conversion. Rhys Simms kicked two conversions. Try scorers for Garndiffaith: Rhys Simms. Man of the match: Dafydd Gristock and Alun Thomas.
The under 16's recently played a hastily arranged fixture with neighbours Llantwit Fardre, with both sides well below strength due to Welsh Squad, and Blues commitments, and school holidays. However with both sides keen to get a game after recent inactivity, the game went ahead with many familiar faces missing on both sides.
The game started well for Pontypridd, but in true derby fashion, Llantwit wouldn't give an inch and defended for their lives. Pontypridd were far stronger up front, and the bullocking runs of Richard 'Rhino" Powell and his lock counterpart Nathaniel Williams were asking real questions of the Llantwit defence.
Two particular runs by Rhino were more akin to a Ten pin bowling match rather than Rugby, with each worthy of a 'strike!" as he scattered the Llantwit pack to the delight of the large crowd and in particular a certain senior team player Adam Powell who happens to be Rhino’s “big?” brother. Giant Prop James Sullivan opened the scoring for Ponty with a ferocious charge to the line that saw him score an unconverted try. Rhino was quick to follow Sullivan’s lead and power over himself for Pontypridd’s second try that was this time converted by Alun Thomas.
Flyhalf Lewis Smith was in exceptional form and a brilliant backs move saw Rhys Simms cross wide out for Pontypridd's third try that went unconverted and taking the score to 17 - 0. As if things couldn't get worse for Llantwit, they then lost their blindside flanker to the sin bin for a series of professional fouls and to add insult to injury Pontypridd’s Flyhalf Smith launched a brilliant solo attack from the half way line. After beating three or four defenders he seemed destined to score, however he unselfishly drew the last defender and offloaded to Rhino who crashed over for his second try of the game that was again converted by Thomas.
Just before half time, Llantwit launched an excellent move from their No8, and when the Llantwit inside centre seemed to have broken the Ponty defence, he was stopped by a dangerous tackle that saw Ponty full back Lewis Egal go off to the sin bin. Half time score Pontypridd 24 Llantwit 0.
The start of the second half saw Llantwit restored to full strength and seemed determined to use this to their advantage. A series of excellent forward drives took them up to the Pontypridd try line and only brave defence by the Pontypridd team held them up short. Llantwit seemed determined to smash through using forward power, but despite three or four very close calls, each attempt was thwarted. It was then that Llantwit suddenly changed tactics with an excellent dummy forward move tying up the Pontypridd defence, quick hands saw the Llantwit centre cross out wide for their opening try that was brilliantly converted by Paul Thampset.
Llantwit were determined to make the most of their one man advantage and were hitting Ponty with wave after wave of attacks. However one of these broke down on Pontypridd’s ten-metre line and Pontypridd’s replacement flanker Ben Miles scooped up the loose ball to race away to score right in the corner with his first touch of the ball. The try was unconverted,
With Ponty restored to full strength, it was flyhalf Smith's turn to show his skills as he launched a fantastic attack, side-stepping his way through the cover and launching a long miss pass to wing Lewis Williams who raced away to cross under the posts for the final try of the match.
Pontypridd Try Scorers: James Sullivan, Richard ‘Rhino’ Powell (2), Rhys Simms, Ben Miles and Lewis Williams.
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