Ponty under 10's start with a win

On Sunday 14^th September, Pontypridd under 10’s got their season underway with a fine away win at Ynysowen by 25pts to 0.

After a wet and gloomy summer the sun shone brightly as Ponty made the short journey up the valley to Ynysowen, the players and supporters alike basking in the heat of both the weather and the hosts’ renowned warm and welcoming hospitality.

Last year’s tremendously successful season was by now just a fond memory, with the coaches stated aim this campaign  to ensure the players enjoy themselves first and foremost, and to ensure the whole squad is equally involved in the long build up to the season ending tournaments, which are scheduled to include trips to English premiership giants Worcester and Bath.

The under 10’s squad has a few new faces this season, and one of them, Lewis Baker opened the scoring after just one minute showing again that there is pace in abundance throughout this team. The tone was now quickly established, and despite their best efforts Ynysowen just had no answer to Ponty’s driving play and ferocious tackling. Griff ‘Greased Lightning’ Lloyd added a second after five minutes whilst Iwan Cavil scored Ponty’s third just before half time.

The movement and distribution shown by the boys in the first half had been promising for their first outing of the season, and but for a couple of handling errors might have yielded a further two tries.

At the start of the second half Ynysowen would have been forgiven for wondering what was happening as almost the entire Ponty team was changed, yet the focus and determination that has become their trademark remained fully intact.

Ynysowen tried bravely and desperately but were simply unable to break out of their own half, their driving play checked and resolutely rebuffed by a Ponty team full of enthusiasm and passion.

The team in the second period slotted together as well as the boys had in the first half, yet, the old habit some players have of simply refusing to pass despite obvious opportunities still remains. Carl Blacker and Jay the ‘Pocket Battleship’ Jones completed the scoring to give the team a hard fought yet comfortable win and send everyone home with a smile on their faces. The new season started as the old had finished with their collective strengths and individual weaknesses still in evidence.

The matches will get harder, yet there is the distinct feeling that if all this squad can play as a team this season could well be something extra special again.