You Shall Not Pass – The Classes of 2019 and 2024
Pontypridd RFC secured a hard-fought 22-0 win against a gritty Newbridge side last Saturday 28th September, the victory extending the Valley Commandos’ winning run to three matches in the Admiral Welsh Premiership at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
Ponty didn’t have things their own way against the men from Gwent, with strong defence needed and duly displayed throughout quite a few periods during the contest. That stoic defensive effort on Saturday saw a near five-and-a-half-year record broken – the last time Pontypridd kept an opponent to zero points in a competitive match came on Friday 8th February 2019 when they won by 45 points to 0 against Neath at The Gnoll.
The current class of 2024 also have some things in common with their 2019 counterparts, four things directly in common anyway – Joel Raikes, Rob Jones, Chris Dicomidis and Morgan Bosanko all appeared on that winter evening back in 2019. Joel, Rob and Morgan all played last Saturday, whilst Chris Dicomidis masterminded things from the touchline.
Keeping the opposition to zero points during a match is no mean feat, as the 66-month period between these achievements will testify – well done lads!
The Pontypridd team that played Neath on Friday 8th February 2019:
15. Ben Jones. 14. Alex Webber. 13. Gary Williams. 12. Dafydd Lockyer (c) (23. Lloyd Rowlands). 11. Alex Knott. 10. Ceri Sweeney (22. Diggy Bird). 9. Joel Raikes (21. Dai Francis).
1. Corey Domachowski (17. Huw Owen). 2. Rob Jones (16. Huw Dowden). 3. Joe Popple (18. Morgan Bosanko). 4. Shay Smallman. 5. Chris Dicomidis (19. Lloyd Evans). 6. Rhodri Jones (20. Steff Jenkins). 7. Rhys Shellard. 8. Alun Lawrence.
Tries: Alex Webber x 2, Ben Jones, Rob Jones, Shay Smallman, Rhys Shellard, Alun Lawrence
Conversions: Ceri Sweeney x 4, Diggy Bird
