Stuckey becomes Ponty’s all-time top semi-pro try scorer, and moves up to 7th in the overall rankings
Last Saturday 11th November Pontypridd secured a 35-18 win over Swansea in the Premiership at Sardis Road. Ponty winger Dale Stuckey scored the team’s second of four tries, pretty routine for a player of his calibre, but the touchdown brought with it a big personal milestone.
Dale’s try on Saturday was his 93rd touchdown for Pontypridd and makes him the Club’s top try scorer in the semi-professional era which began in 2003/04. Try 93 moves him past friend and legendary former Ponty centre and captain Dafydd Lockyer who scored 92 tries for the Valley Commandos.
Overall, Dale’s 93rd try now moves him into 7th place on the Club’s all-time list of try scorers, seven tries behind Paul John in 6th and eight behind Brian Juliff in 5th position. The pacey, Sardis-favourite on the left-wing will no doubt be eyeing up moving further up the try-scoring charts over the future months.
On becoming Ponty’s top try scorer in the semi-pro era, Dale said: “It’s a huge personal milestone and something I’m really proud of. To be mentioned amongst the likes of Locks (Dafydd Lockyer) and the other players on the list is a huge honour.”
Former Ponty Skipper Lockyer was full of praise for his former team-mate. Daf, speaking glowingly of Stuckey surpassing his Club record said: “Dale is a great player and what an achievement. He deserves every accolade that comes his way. He has been a class act over the years and some of the tries he’s scored for Pontypridd have been amazing. Dale was a massive part of our success when we had 5 or 6 years of winning league and cups and having good runs in the British and Irish Cup. But above all he was a great person to have in our squad and I’m chuffed to call him a friend – I would like to congratulate Stuckey on his try record and breaking mine was never in doubt, he’s a real class act and a class person.”
Congratulations Dale – the century is now in sight!
OFFICIAL CLUB STATISTICS –
Top 10 Ponty try scorers in the semi-pro era:
- Dale Stuckey – 93* not out
- Dafydd Lockyer – 92
- Chris Clayton – 83
- Matthew Nuthall – 73
- Alex Webber – 68
- Lewis I Williams – 63
- Dan Godfrey – 55
- Gavin Dacey – 52
- Chris Dicomidis – 51* not out
- Rhys Shellard – 50
Top 10 Ponty try scorers of all-time:
- Karl Swain – 179
- Tommy David – 171
- Gareth Wyatt – 112
- Robert Davies – 107
- Brian Juliff – 101
- Paul John – 100
- Dale Stuckey – 93* not out
- Dafydd Lockyer – 92
- Steele Lewis – 89
- Adrian Barwood – 85
