Ponty Youth gear up for the season's climax

Fresh(ish!) from an end of season residential study weekend to Magaluf, Pontypridd Youth are aiming to finish the season on a multiple high with a League and Merit Cup double very much in their sights. 

A recent run of five consecutive victories has given the youngsters some well timed momentum and form going into the final few fixtures and, with team spirit soaring, the next couple of weeks promise plenty of passion and excitement.

Coaches Simon Bayliss and Andy Price have worked the squad hard since last summer and apart from a lean period just after the New Year the boys have enjoyed the returns for all that effort with a number of notable scalps including impressive away wins against Bonymaen and Blackwood, flag-bearers for the Ospreys and Dragons regions respectively, a District Cup semi-final that was only lost on a technicality and a season-long interest at the top of the Blues B League that will be secured if they can win their final games against Treorchy and Llantwit Major.  There is also the prospect of yet another Cup tussle with Treorchy, this time in the semi-final of the Merit Cup with Pontypridd looking to avenge the agonising loss they suffered against the same team in the District Cup.           

The core of the young squad are graduates of the club’s junior set-up and they have been reinforced by a cosmopolitan collection of Irish and English students from the University of Glamorgan all of whom have thoroughly embraced the culture and camaraderie at the club and very much contributed to the growth and development of the group over the past eight months.  A number of the club’s under 16s are already training with the Youth squad and will be brought in as soon as possible to keep the continuity going but a few players will be leaving the Youth at the end of this season to forge new paths for themselves and while it is too early to say good bye it is definitely a good opportunity to say good luck to Callum “Tiny” Reed, Tom Flye, Max Day, Dewi Kingsbury, Josh Waughington, Elliot Davies, Connor Ryan, James Kelly and last but certainly not least Gavin “Goat” Steele.       

The next fixtures for Pontypridd Youth will be the Merit Cup semi-final against Treorchy this Saturday 21 April at Sardis Road (KO 2.30) followed by a League game again at Sardis Road against Llantwit Major on 28 April (KO 2.30).