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Page 1 of 2 YOUTH RUGBYCanton 24 - 41 Pontypridd Canton are proudly sat at top of division 3 of the Blues leagues with an unbeaten record and destined for promotion to the National Divisions as Cardiff champions at the end of the Season. They have only conceded an average of nine points per match all season, before today’s game as the Upstarts upset the form book again...
Young Ponty were facing a huge challenge as they had only 19 fit players for the game, with captain and fly-half Lewis Smith suffering from a groin problem, so was only available for bench cover. With both first choice locks, Nathaniel Williams and Drew Evans injured, Ponty gave a first start to Owain Kingsbury at lock after his impressive debut there as a late replacement against Treherbert, whilst Alun ‘Beefy’ Thomas moved up from No8 to fill the other lock position. Sam Studley was acting Captain and switched to his second position of scrum half whilst Liam Stacey moved to fly-half in the absence of Smith. With wings Parker, Miles and Williams all on the long term injury list, max Padfield and Ben Troake continued at wing. Also, with both replacement props Dean Brown and James Sullivan not available, Ponty had only hooker Cai Daniel as a front row replacement. Canton started at a tremendous pace and had Ponty under a lot of early pressure. This was not helped by the Ponty pack continually incurring the wrath of the referee at the breakdown, where they were penalised at least half a dozen times and were forced back to their own five-metre line where they eventually conceded a scrum. From the scrum the Canton no8 picked and drove,, Although well tackled by Jon Reid and Sam Studley, the Canton pack where able to recycle and drive for the line again. Brave work by the forwards kept frustrating the Canton forward attack, but after Canton had recycled four or five times, eventually Ponty run out of tacklers and Canton crossed for a close range converted try. Ponty were again put under pressure from Canton straight from kick off and were desperately trying to defend on the edge of their own twenty-two, when a nasty clash of heads at the tackle area saw acting Liam Stacey leave the field with a nasty face wound that eventually required 7 stitches. With Ponty having only two back replacements, Stacey was replaced by the half fit Smith. Smith was quick to make his impact on the game and after great defensive work by Studley, Smith was able to clear the Ponty lines for a line out near the Canton ten-metre. At the line out, Owain Kingsbury out-jumped his Canton opponent and stole a great ball, Studley fed Smith who ran across field dummying a long pass before flicking a short reverse pass to centre Dan Dearden to race through the confused defence for Ponty's first try that was converted by Rhys Simms to level the score at 7-7. A poor kick off by Canton, saw an immediate counter attack from Ponty full back Simms, who beat two tacklers before feeding right wing Ben Troake. The wing drew his opposite number before "nutmegging" him with a deft little kick, with nobody home in defence it became a simple race between Troake and Ponty No8 Dean Maisey for the loose ball, with Maisey just edging out Troake who was hindered by a backpedalling defender, to score Ponty's second try that was again converted by Simms. Canton seemed stunned to fall behind after so much early pressure? And when great line out work from Oliver and Maisey won quick ball for Ponty, Studley and Smith linked well before unleashing centre Lewis Egal who continued where he left off last week by bursting clear of his opposite number to show the Canton defence a clean pair of heals, racing in for another converted try for the visitors. Canton seemed stung by the Ponty scores, but sadly reacted the wrong way. When Dean Maisey stole another Canton line out deep in their half, his opposite number decided to take the law into his own hands and an ugly brawl broke out amongst the forwards. The referee was on hand to witness the Canton scrumhalf head butt not once but twice during the brawl and instantly issued an immediate red card. The Canton openside was lucky to stay on the field after joining the brawl and kicking Maisey whilst he was lying prone on the floor. Ponty punished Canton’s misdemeanours further by taking a penalty kick at goal that was expertly converted by Simms for a half time score of Canton 7 - 24 Pontypridd. At half time Ponty threw on their last three subs, to give some of the walking wounded a rest, but this did little to stop their attacking intent and within five minutes of the second half, they were on the score sheet again. The Canton captain playing at no 6 again took Maisey out off the ball and earned a long lecture from the referee. When the penalty was awarded Studley tapped it quickly spurning the kick at goal and drove for the line. When he was tackled he offloaded to prop Marc Jones who drove play to within ten metres of the Canton line. When the move seemed to have faltered, flanker Dafydd Gristock ripped the ball clear and quickly moved the ball across the midfield to the left wing, where that man Maisey popped up to burst over out wide for his second try. The Canton coaches were urging their side to try to move the ball wide and avoid contact, but the Ponty midfield proved more than a match for that option. When Canton tried to a midfield break, an outstanding tackle from Ponty centre Lewis Egal, saw him upend his opposite number, dislodging the ball in the tackle that was hacked on by his centre partner Dearden, who collected his own kick and race away under the posts for another try converted by Simms. A further outbreak amongst the forwards saw the referee lose patience and Ponty blindside Jon Reid and the Canton Hooker were each sent to the sin bin. Ponty didn't let this deter them from their sparkling display of rugby and when a wayward Canton defensive kick was collected by Simms in his own twenty-two, he went on a trademark run, where using superb pace and balance, he beat defender after defender before crossing wide out on the left for a fantastic solo try. Ponty were really trying to play some exhibition rugby, however this is always high risk and when replacement centre Tom Newberry tried to force a pass deep in the Canton twenty-two, it was intercepted by their wing who raced away unopposed for a well deserved try that was converted. This new score seemed to lift Canton and with some fresh legs on, they were able to punish Ponty further when an uncharacteristic defensive slip in midfield allowed them a third try out-wide on the right. With the game entering injury time and the binned players returning there was time for one last score that went to Canton, who crossed for a close range try that was hotly disputed by the Ponty pack, who felt that the ball was never grounded, for a final score of Canton 24 – 41 Pontypridd. MATCH PHOTOS [PASSWORD required, see coaches] This was a fantastic display by the young Ponty side that comprehensively outplayed Canton, reinforcing their credentials for promotion next season. In a fast, open and physical game in hot conditions, Ponty played some outstanding disciplined rugby. It was only the lack of substitutes that allowed Canton back into the game, as the Ponty legs tired as semi-fit players like Lewis Smith, Dean Maisey, Dale Pugh and Ben Troake were forced to play the whole match despite carrying injuries. Once again selecting a man of the match in such a performance is a difficult job, as there were some impressive performances. Dan Dearden and Jon Reid had strong games, showing the benefits of training with the seniors. Full back Simms was again outstanding and took his personal points tally to 175 for the season. Sam Studley was fantastic both as scrum half and Captain, and Lewis Smith, Lewis Egal, Ben Troake and Max Padfield were excellent in midfield. However man of the match had to be the brilliant Dean Maisey who scored two tries and put in a display that was intelligent, aggressive and abrasive, but yet disciplined. The Ponty players and coaches would also like to wish flanker/scrum half Sam Studly good luck for next Wednesday, where Sam becomes the first of the new Ponty youth side to be selected to represent the Crawshay’s Under 18's. Congratulations Sam. TRY scorers for Pontypridd: Dan Deardon (2), Dean Maissey (2), Lewis Egal and Rhys Simms. Rhys Simms kicked 4 Conversions and a penalty. Man of the match: Dean Maissey.
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