An emphatic and faultless display by Pontypridd Under 13s saw them claim the Dukes 12 a-side International Youth Tournament. With teams from England, Ireland, Wales, France, Belgium, Germany and of course Holland present on the weekend, this was a big accolade for the team on their first ever tour.
Whitsun weekend saw Pontypridd RFC Under 13s travel to Holland to participate in the Dukes International Tournament. Not only did they win the tournament outright, the ST Cabs sponsored Pontypridd Reds remained undefeated and even more pleasingly, did not concede a single point all weekend!
Tournament Results for Pontypridd:
Group games:
Pontypridd 35 0 Diabolos (Schilde, Belgium)
TRY scorers: Jordan Jevons (2), Dale Hughes (2), Alex Knowles, Oliver Bailey and Garin Rossiter.
Pontypridd 35 0 Bassets/WRCH (Sassenheim & Den Haag combined, NL)
TRY scorers: Gareth Cleaver, Alex Knowles, Dale Hughes, Jordan Jevons, Michael Connor, Mikey Jones and Garin Rossiter.
Pontypridd 60 0 ARC/AAC Amsterdam Districts (NL)
TRY scorers: Dale Hughes (3), Garin Rossiter (2), Gareth Cleaver, Liam Williams, Stefan Jenkins, Morgan Rees, Jordan Jevons, Mikey Jones and Oliver Bailey.
Pontypridd 35 0 RC Breda (NL)
TRY scorers: Oliver Bailey (2), Michael Connor, Garin Rossiter, Jordan Jevons, Chris Jones and Mikey Jones.
SEMI-FINAL
Pontypridd 50 0 Dukes (s-Hertogenbosch, NL)
Comprehensive victories in the group stage, including wins over a combined team, along with a district team, saw Ponty lined up to play the host club the Dukes in the semi-final. A year previously the Dukes had visited Pontypridd and participated in the clubs mini tournament, along with playing friendly fixtures against the older age groups.
So throughout the tournament the Ponty players had cheered on their friends the Dukes, shouting encouragement and advice from the touchlines that had helped the Dukes to reach the finals and an inspired victory over their arch rivals the Bulldogs.
In a one sided contest Ponty ran riot as the Dukes, still tired after their heroic match against the Bulldogs, ran out of steam. Tired legs saw them struggle to cope with the hot conditions and the pace of the ever-enthusiastic Ponty players.
TRY scorers: Dale Hughes (2), Oliver Bailey, Alex Knowles, Oliver Dalley, Jordan Jevons, Liam Williams, Jamie Thomas, Stefan Jenkins and Morgan Rees.
FINAL
Pontypridd 40 0 t Gooi (Naarden, NL)
Ponty faced the strongest side in the tournament in a bruising encounter that despite the one sided score-line, was a tough match against a very well drilled side. Coached by a South African, t Gooi gave no quarter and like Pontypridd were undefeated going into the final.
In an enthralling first half Ponty scored six unanswered tries as a shocked t Gooi struggled to cope with the intensity of the Ponty forwards play and the explosive rush defence of the Ponty backs. A halftime pep talk saw a revitalised t Gooi who proceeded to take the game to Ponty, but despite ever-increasing pressure Ponty were determined to keep a clean slate and repelled attack after attack.
On two occasions t Gooi reached the Ponty try line, only to be held up by a determined and solid defence. Eventually Ponty managed to steal possession back to punish a stretched t Gooi with two more unanswered tries to seal the victory and the tournament.
TRY scorers: Dale Hughes (3), Jordan Jevons (2), Michael Connor, Garin Rossiter and Oliver Dalley.
TOUR SQUAD:
Forwards: Michael Connor (c), Alex Knowles, Johnathan Griffin, Jamie Thomas, Oliver Dalley, Stefan Jenkins & Gareth Cleaver.
Backs: Chris Jones, Liam Williams, Dale Hughes, Jordan Jevons, Oliver Bailey, Garin Rossiter, Mikey Jones & Morgan Rees.