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Page 1 of 2 Saturday saw Ponty welcome Treorchy Youth to Sardis Road. Treorchy are sitting proudly top of National League division 2 having been unbeaten this season, and Ponty faced a massive challenge in this fixture.
Ponty were able to welcome back Sam Studley for this fixture, and have also added abrasive flanker Ryan Owen to their squad, however lock Geraint Rowley suffered a leg injury against Morriston, and no 8 Dean Maisey was unavailable, so once again Ponty had 11 Players unavailable and were only able to name 4 substitutes. Treorchy had been in Division 1 last season but were relegated, and this year seem determined to bounce straight back up and have built a formidable pack. The game started as a tight affair and although Treorchy dominated possession and territory, the Ponty defence was magnificent and they stopped attack after attack. Infact it was 20 minutes before Treorchy were able to break the deadlock scoring a close range converted try after a series of powerful forward drives. Ponty though were not going to lie down in this match, and a clever line out move involving Hooker Sam Oliver and lock Christian Hitt, saw Ponty unleash no 8 Alun Thomas on a fantastic powerful burst for a try converted by Simms to tie the scores. Ponty should have added to the score and minutes later a fantastic break by scrum half Sam Studley and Centre Dan Dearden put centre Rhys Lloyd away on a fantastic run. Lloyd expertly drew the last defender, however he passed the ball inside, when wing Aaron Steverson was unmarked outside him and Treorchy were able to stop the move. Simms was unlucky with a long-range penalty attempt, and Ponty were starting to look like they could cause more problems. Centre Dan Dearden caused panic in the Treorchy defence when he hacked a loose ball ahead and when the ball was recycled Ponty were unlucky not to add another try when Owen was held up just short of the line. Frustratingly for Ponty, on the stroke of half time Treorchy were able to drive over from a line out after Ponty had been penalised for offside in midfield. Half Time Ponty 7 Treorchy 12. Ponty opened the half at tremendous pace, and a great break by Studley put stand in fly half Rhys Simms on a fantastic run to the corner, only for a brilliant cover tackle to drag Simms trailing leg over the touchline to deny him the try by inches. This seemed to wake Treorchy up, and another powerful drive from the line out saw them add another unconverted try, in controversial fashion as Ponty had stepped out of the line out, not to contest the maul, and catch Treorchy for "truck and trailer" but the referee didn't penalise them and the try stood to take the scores to Ponty 7 Treorchy 17. Ponty still wouldn't lie down and an excellent break by Studley, Simms, Dearden and Lloyd, saw the ball spun to speedster Billy Waters who sprinted away from the Treorchy 10m line, riding two tackles to score the try of the game wide on the left that went unconverted. Pontypridd 12 Treorchy 17. With the game drawing to an end, Ponty were hit with a cruel blow. A Ponty lineout deep in their own 22m was scruffily passed back to Studley who was caught in possession, he scrambled the ball along the ground to Simms who hacked the ball ahead only for it to bounce straight into a Treorchy players hands allowing him to barge over for a lucky unconverted score. Ponty 12 Treorchy 22. This brought an exciting game to an end, with the final score flattering Treorchy and not giving credit to the magnificent effort of an under strength Ponty. The game was a real spectacle and a credit to the Referee, Mr Roper of Bedlinog and both sets of players and coaches. Ponty man of the Match Sam Studley.
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