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Page 2 of 3 YOUTH RUGBY Pontypridd Youth (1) 5 – 17 Pontypool UnitedOn Saturday 13 October, Pontypridd youth entertained the current Welsh Youth champions Pontypool United in a hastily arranged friendly after St Peters withdrew from their Division 2 League fixture.
Pontypool United are an extremely well drilled side boasting a massive pack and won the Inter Regional Division 1 play offs last season to be crowned Welsh champions after claiming the Dragons Regional championships in an undefeated league campaign, so it was going to be a really tough task for Ponty Youth (1). Ponty's preparations for the game were rocked when they lost giant lock Christian Hitt to a shoulder problem, Prop James Sullivan, utility Forward Grant Johnson and wing Lewis Williams with flu. With Hooker Cai Daniel and centre Lewis Egal still out with broken bones and wing Steven Parker unavailable, it was a reshuffled Ponty side that took the field. With Lock Nathaniel Williams only able to provide bench cover after failing to fully recover from a recurring shoulder problem, Geraint Rowley made his first start for Ponty after impressing as a replacement last week. From the kick off Ponty were on the back foot and were totally outclassed in the pack by the bigger Pontypool front five, who were in total control at scrum and line out, where they stole ball in both set pieces at will. Despite their abundant possession and territorial dominance, the Pontypool backs failed to pose any real threat to the Ponty defence, with most moves being stopped by some heroic tackling from Ponty halfbacks Studley and Smith, along with centres Dearden and Hughes. Every early attack seemed to involve Pontypool’s giant inside centre, who was by far the biggest player on the field, however he rarely managed to cross the gain line, being superbly marked by the Ponty midfield. Clearly realising the substantial advantage they had in the pack, Pontypool switched to a pick and drive game, keeping the ball close to the pack and used their superior strength and power to bludgeon the Ponty defence. This immediately made inroads into Ponty's defence, and even when Ponty managed to force a mistake, little advantage could be gained as the Pontypool set piece consistently robbed Ponty of the ball, allowing another wave of attacks to be launched. It was from one of these ferocious drives that Pontypool opened a well deserved lead when their giant pack drove play deep into the Ponty 22 before their powerful prop, peeled away to score an unconverted try. Ponty Youth's problems worsened when young prop Dean Brown was forced to leave the field with a neck injury and was replaced by Dale Pugh. Ponty youth did start to fight back, however they were forced to live off mere scraps of possession. A couple of promising moves from Smith, Dearden and Hughes did threaten to unlock the Pontypool defence late in the first half, however Pontypool showed why they are the reigning champions robbing Ponty at the ruck, where both backs and forwards showed brilliant technique to arrive in numbers and clear out their Ponty opponents with ease. With the half drawing to a close, Ponty received a further body blow. At a Pontypool scrum on their own 10 metre line their scrum half fumbled the ball under pressure from Ponty's Studley. The Pooler scrum half still managed to get a half pass away and with Ponty appealing for a clear knock on, the pooler centres burst through the Ponty defence. With the referee being unsighted, she waived play on? With Poolers eye-catching full back in support, the Pontypool backs had a clear overlap and crossed for a try that was converted to take the half time score to Pontypridd Youth 0 Pontypool United 12. Ponty lost lock Geraint Rowley at half time to a head injury with a semi fit Nathanial Williams replacing him. Ponty were now in determined mood to show that they were not going to roll over in this game. The second half started better for Ponty, with Dale Pugh and Marc Jones, starting to get a far better platform at the scrum for Ponty, and Alun Thomas and Dean Maissey, shortening the line outs and varying the calls to some success. Ponty did start to win some quick ball from the line out, and were unlucky when a clever chip from Lewis Smith seemed as though it would be collected by flying full back Rhys Simms, however Simms was blocked off the ball and although Ponty were given a penalty, they opted to kick for territory rather than at goal, but the resultant kick was sliced infield where the danger was cleared. Pontypool then returned to their earlier game plan, and launched attack after attack from their forwards. Ponty seemed to have weathered the storm, when excellent tackling from Owain Kingsbury, Alun Thomas and Dean Maissey had stopped a series of drives. Ponty Openside Dafydd Gristock stole possession from the tackled player but was unable to get the ball away so went to ground to set up the ruck. With the Ponty pack slow to get in support, a Pooler prop drove into the side of the ruck and cleverly stole the ball, with Ponty's appeals for offside falling on deaf ears, they were punished when the Pooler open-side came on a great angle in support to cross for an unconverted try. Pontypridd 0 - Pontypool United 17. Finally Ponty seemed to wake up to their more streetwise opponents, and with Sam Oliver on for Dale Pugh, who had to leave the field after suffering a serious head wound following some ugly rucking treatment from the Pooler pack, they started to move the ball wide and keep play away from the Pooler forwards. After quick scrum ball was spun away by Studley, Flyhalf Smith and centre Dearden used a clever switch move that has become their trademark as Dearden broke through his opposite numbers tackle to cross wide on the right for Ponty's opening score that sadly went unconverted. With Ponty losing wing Nathan Evans, replacement Ponty scrum half Rhys Ashman came on as wing to make his season debut and although out of position, he bravely defended to prevent Pooler exploiting the switch. With neither side really threatening, the game petered out in midfield with the final score Pontypridd 5 Pontypool United 17. Whilst disappointed to lose, the Ponty players could leave this game with their heads held high. They had been under intense pressure from the Welsh champions, but had stuck to their task and defended like their lives depended on it. They had showed real grit and determination not to let Ponty down and with all 21 players putting their bodies on the line, it would be unfair to select any individual for the man of the match award. They had weathered an early storm and been unlucky with a few decisions, but had still stuck to the task, equalling Pontypool’s scoring record in the second half. Well done lads, you were a credit to the club... Ponty Senior youth are currently training at Gartholwg Community Campus in Church Village on a Tuesday and Thursday evening. Training is on the school rugby field and trials are being held between 6 pm and 7pm as Pontypridd RFC are looking to strengthen the Senior Youth squad in a number of Key positions, especially in the Backs and in the front five of the pack. All new players are made welcome.
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