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Page 1 of 2 Last Saturday Ponty entertained fellow promotion challengers Pentyrch in a key league fixture for both sides. This was going to be a key "6 pointer", and after Ponty's agonising defeat to Treorchy, neither side could afford to lose.
Ponty had won the corresponding away fixture earlier in the year, taking Pentyrch's impressive 18 month unbeaten league record in the process so Pentyrch were in determined mood to redress the defeat, particularly after their promotion hopes had been hit by a shock defeat to St Peters the previous week. Ponty's preparations were rocked by the loss of wing Billy Waters and centre Lewis Egal, and with a number of players on the long term injury list, once again talented flanker Alun "Beefy" Thomas showed his versatility by filling in at centre and pacey lock Owain Kingsbury stepped in at wing, with Junior youth flanker Aaron Atkins once again stepping up to the senior squad at 6. Ponty played into a stiff breeze in the first half, but were able to use their powerful forwards to keep Pentyrch pinned in their own half, despite the wind advantage. Some of the support running and off loads from the Ponty 15 were of the highest order and Pentyrch were limited to a couple of chances from breakaways after turnovers. Ponty were dominant at line out and scrum, and halfbacks Studley and Smith were controlling the game impressively, varying play between the forwards and backs and maintaining a high tempo game that Pentyrch struggled to cope with. Ponty nearly opened the scoring with a long range penalty attempt by Simms that just faded past the post, but it was clever tactical play as it kept Pentyrch pinned in their own 22 for much of the first half despite the wind advantage. Under this sort of pressure a try was inevitable, and it came after a brilliant move from Lewis Smith, who used decoy runners to great effect to bamboozle the Pentyrch midfield, before unleashing full back Rhys Simms who raced through untouched from 30 metres for a great try which he also converted to give Ponty a 7 point lead at the interval. Ponty nearly added another, when after great work from Sam Studley, Lewis Smith sprinted clear and looked certain to score before he was tripped by a fantastic last ditch ankle tap. The second half started in similar fashion to the first. Simms attempted a long range penalty from near half way with the wind behind him. He struck the kick superbly but it fell inches under the cross bar. Ponty were now totally incontrol and it was only the heroic defending of Pentyrch that stopped Ponty adding further scores. For 10 minutes Ponty were camped deep in the Pentyrch 22, but despite a number of close range scrums, Pentyrch were able to prevent Ponty from grounding the ball to the referees satisfaction, and each attack was thwarted. Eventually the pressure told and after a brilliant break by Sam Studley,Lewis Smith and Dan Dearden, desperate Pentyrch defence managed to stop Dearden two metres short. Lock Christian Hitt was up in support and it seemed a try was assured, however Pentyrch deliberately killed the ball to prevent the score, and Ponty were awarded a simple close range penalty for Simms in front of the posts to stretch the lead to 10 - 0. Pentyrch were tiring badly and with the wind against them, it was only courageous defence that was now keeping Ponty out, and with fly half Smith cleverly using the wind to keep Pentyrch pinned deep in their half, the win looked safe for Ponty. Pentyrch were lucky not to have a player sin binned when after another powerful Ponty attack was halted, the ball was killed illegally to prevent Ponty adding another try, however the offence was spotted and Simms duly stepped up to kick another penalty to take the lead to Ponty 13, Pentyrch 0. As the game entered it's final minutes, Pentyrch threw everything at Ponty in an attempt to salvage a score, however the attack was stopped dead by the impressive Aaron Atkins, who tackled and robbed the ball carrier before launching a counterattack of his own, running 30 metres before being hauled down in a desperate try saving tackle, to end the game Ponty 13 Pentyrch 0. This was a must win game for both sides, and gaining the double over a spirited Pentyrch side was a real acheivement for young Ponty in their quest for promotion. Both sides had cause to celebrate back at the club when the news broke that title rivals Treorchy suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Llantwit Major, and now with the season entering it's final four weeks, any one of 5 sides can still win this fantastically competitive division, although Treorchy still remain the clear favourites for the title. Man of the Match was Aaron Atkins who put in an awesome performance in both attack and defence, despite suffering from a bad dose of the flu.
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