Pontypridd Youth (1) 5 – 12 Treorchy

TRY Scorer for Pontypridd: Billy Waters

Two weeks ago, the Senior Youth 1 travelled to Treorchy for a crucial game in the race for promotion to National League 1 of the Welsh Youth league. Treorchy were in top position and had a game in hand over Ponty, and with Pentyrch placed third and also having a game in hand, this was a must win game.

Ponty were virtually at full strength for the game with only prop James Sullivan, flanker Mike Davies and fullback Rhys Simms missing. The versatile Alun Thomas stepped in at fullback, with Aaron Atkins stepping up from the junior youth side to play flanker, and Dean Brown replacing Sullivan. In atrocious conditions the referee ruled the game could proceed, and with near gale force winds and sporadic sleet showers, the game commenced with Ponty playing with the wind in the first half.

Ponty dominated the early exchanges and with the wind behind them, kept Treorchy pinned in their 22 unable to clear their lines. Ponty had total control and the fearsome Treorchy pack were unable to punch through the Ponty defence in the face of tenacious tackling from Atkins, Gristock and Maisey. Ponty's dominance started to count against them and frustratingly for the coaches they spurned two or three Penalty chances to kick at goal, preferring to kick for the corner to chase a try.

This was a poor decision by Ponty, and when they lost lock Christian Hitt to a recurrance of an ankle injury 20mins into the first half, the line out became an area of the game where Treorchy had the upper hand, and many promising Positions for Ponty were foiled by lost line outs. Eventually Ponty were able to win another long range penalty and this time opted for the kick at goal, however the kick drifted agonisingly wide, as did another attempt just 5 minutes later.

It seemed to most spectators that Ponty would open their scoring any minute, however it was Treorchy who drew first blood against the run of play. Ponty wing Billy Waters was sin binned for handling at a ruck, and whilst Waters was off the filed, Ponty foolishly attempted a complicated move involving stand in full back Alun Thomas. When the pass went to ground it was scooped up by the Treorchy midfield and with no covering winger with Waters in the bin, and the full back in the attacking line, Treorchy had a simple 70 metre sprint for a try that went unconverted.

Ponty nearly hit back immediately and felt hard done by the referee when no 8 Dean Maisey broke from a scrum on the Treorchy 22, beat his opposite number, before chipping the fullback and diving on the ball for what seemed a clear try, but after loud appeals from the Treorchy players and supporters the referee ruled the ball had touched the dead ball line as Maisey grounded and the score was disallowed, with the half time score Treorchy 5 Ponty 0

The second half saw Ponty playing into the elements, and with a struggling line out it seemed Treorchy would pull away, however this Ponty side are made of sterner stuff, and despite the deteriorating conditions, the Ponty pack played some outstanding rugby to keep Treorchy pinned in their half, despite them having the wind advantage. After great play from the Ponty pack and half backs, Ponty were able to unleash wing Waters, who sidestepped his way to the try line to score wide on the left, that in the face of a gale force wind was unconverted to tie the scores at 5 apeice.

Ponty had further injury problems, and youth 2 Centre Dean Gunter came on to make his senior debut. Ponty were now dominat in all areas other than the line out, however with the wind so strong, penalty kicks at goal weren't really an option, although young Gunter was agonisingly close with one effort that shaved the post. Waters was unlucky not to add to his try tally when after a brilliant move from the Ponty threequarters in difficult conditions, he failed to hold a pass with the try line begging.

With the game looking to end in a draw, tragedy struck for Ponty, when a desperate clearance kick from Treorchy seemed to have been dealt with by Lewis Smith who collected the kick and started the counterattack, only for a breakdown in communication, to lead to Treorchy intercepting a pass to again race away against the run of play, for a try under the posts that was simply converted to win the game for Treorchy 12 –5

This was heartbreaking for Ponty, as it was acknowledged by many of the Treorchy officials that Ponty had played all the rugby, and that Treorchy had been very lucky to punish Ponty mistakes. Ponty were left the rue the decision not to take the penalty kicks at goal in the first half, but there was a glimmer of hope in their quest for promotion, as Pentyrch had a shock loss to lowly St Peters, throwing Ponty a lifeline, provided they win all their remaining fixtures.

Man of the match was Ponty wing Billy Waters.

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