Ponty Youth go top

On Saturday 26^th April Pontypridd Youth (seniors) played Ystrad Rhondda in division two of the National Leagues with both sides still able to secure promotion to division one. The game was a home fixture for Ystrad, but with their senior squad at home playing a vital game for promotion, Ystrad graciously agreed to play the fixture at Sardis to enable the game to proceed. 

Ponty started well and should have taken an early lead. At an early Ponty ruck in midfield, outstanding  fly half Lewis Smith placed a clever cross kick to the blindside, that was  chased by full back Simms, who frustratingly just failed to hold the catch with the try line begging. Ystrad were in determined mood, and after this early scare they dominated the game with their powerful forwards and were camped for long periods in Ponty territory.

The Ystrad pack were well drilled and kept possession brilliantly until a gap appeared near the right corner flag where they were able to crash over for a well deserved try that was unconverted. This seemed to be the shock Ponty needed and they soon hit back with a sweeping move launched by Sam Studley and Lewis Smith. Giant lock Geraint Rowley showed great support running to create the extra man, and gave a superb pass to speedy wing Billy Waters, who shrugged off a head high tackle to sprint over in the corner and then burst for the posts to make the conversion easier. Simms duly converted and Ponty took a 7 - 5 lead against the run of play. 

Ystrad were not to be denied long however and when Ponty full back Simms lost possession in a counterattack on halfway, Ystrad quickly snapped up the ball and crossed for an excellent converted try to restore their lead to 12 -7 at half time. 

After a roasting at half time, Ponty appeared to approach the second half with a bit more purpose in their game, and were rewarded when great harrying from flanker Dafydd Gristock saw Ystrad penalised for not releasing in the tackle on the edge of their 22, with Simms converting the penalty to take the score to Ystrad 12 Ponty 10.

Minutes later Ponty were again awarded a Penalty for Ystrad not releasing on the Ystrad 10 metre line, and this time their blindside flanker was sin binned. Simms once again added the points and Ponty took a narrow lead 12 - 13. Ponty however failed to take advantage of the extra man and the next 10 minutes saw a catalogue of wrong options and poor handling from the Ponty side, and if anything despite the scoreline, Ystrad had the better of the play.  

With the game entering its final minutes and only one point separating the sides, Ponty needing to secure possession at a 5m line out, threw to the front, were no 8 Dean Maisey in his desperation to secure the ball, leant on his opponent, and was rightly penalised. Ystrad opted for the simple kick at goal, but the ball hitting a post and going dead.

This was a "get out of jail free card" for Ponty and they knew they had ridden their luck far too much in this game. Captain Lewis Smith took control and smashed the resultant 22m drop out deep down field, and for the first time in the game, Ponty chased the kick with purpose forcing Ystrad to concede a line out near their own 10 metre line. This time Ponty threw long, and replacement lock Owain Kingsbury jumped magnificently to give his backs quality ball, Studley took the move on before feeding Smith who threw the perfect pass to hard running centre Dan Dearden, who burst through to cross under the posts for a try simply converted by Simms. 

There was little time for Ystrad to strike back and though they valiantly tried to launch one last attack the Ponty defence held firm and they held out for a 20 - 12 victory that was a cruel result for Ystrad for the effort they had shown. The win takes Ponty back to the top of Blues National division 2, with two games left to play (both against fellow title contenders Glamorgan Wanderers) and still with a chance of securing both the title and promotion to Division 1 for next season.