Festive friendly wins for Ponty Youth

Pontypridd Youth played two friendly games over the Christmas period – against Bridgend Athletic on Saturday 23d December and against Ystrad Rhondda on Saturday 30th December.

Both games were to offer Pontypridd different yet equally challenging styles of opposition.

Bridgend Athletic, current Ospreys A League leaders, came to play an expansive high tempo fifteen man game which Ponty were happy to match, with both teams scoring some exceptional individual and team tries during an enthralling contest.

Ponty outside half Bailey Roberts scored the try of the match, wrestling the ball from an opponent five metres from his own line, and breaking to win a length of the field kick and chase to score in the corner.  In a high scoring encounter, Pontypridd eventually ran out winners by 55pts to 33.

Ystrad Rhondda were to offer a far more forward oriented game. Ponty had all the early territory and possession with Ystrad capitalising on some unforced errors and soft penalties to force their way back into contention. The home side withstood the pressure to go in at the break with a narrow 12pts to 9 lead.

Ystrad Rhondda started the second half the stronger and again put Ponty under pressure, scoring a converted try to go 12pts to 16 ahead. The game turned into an arm wrestle with Ponty slowly gaining the upper hand as the half progressed.    From a line out Ponty drove over to score a converted try to regain the lead.  Ystrad forced their way back into the home half and capitalised on their opponents’ infringements to kick a crucial penalty with less than five minutes remaining.

Ponty in response drove deep into the Ystrad half, retaining possession and finally forcing the concession of a penalty at the breakdown which outside half Bailey Roberts converted to win the game at the death by 20pts to 19.