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Ponty - Review 05/06
By Zippy May 31 2006
Review of Ponty's highly successful 2005/2006 season. The Sardis Road outfit coached by Simon King can enjoy the summer on the back of their efforts.

Ponty's season was boosted by a return to form in the league, for the past few seasons Ponty have struggled in mid table, but this season a highly talented bunch of youngsters started to play some great rugby and captured the public imagination with a boost in crowds.

They ended the seasin in 3rd place and were one of only 2 teams to topple the unstoppable Neath side.

The main joy for Ponty this season will be the Welsh Cup triumph at the Millennium Stadium, Ponty went in as massive underdogs but the youngsters rose to the occassion and outplayed Neath.

Principality Building Society Premiership Table
12 May 2006

  Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
PTS
1 Neath 30 28 0 2 1070 421 84
2 Bridgend 30 23 0 7 709 587 69
3 Pontypridd 30 21 0 9 788 560 63
4 Aberavon 30 19 0 11 748 596 57
5 Newport 30 19 0 11 623 610 57
6 Llanelli 30 18 0 12 589 599 54
7 Swansea 30 16 0 14 849 713 48
8 Bedwas 30 12 2 16 562 702 38
9 Cross Keys 30 12 0 18 513 608 36
10 Cardiff 30 11 0 19 646 726 33
11 Glamorgan Wanderers 30 10 2 18 607 738 32
12 Ebbw Vale 30 10 1 19 583 686 31
13 Llandovery 30 10 0 20 597 692 30
14 Maesteg 30 9 1 20 573 785 28
15 Carmarthen 30 9 1 20 546 821 28
16 Pontypool 30 8 3 19 473 632 27

By www.PontypriddRFC.co.uk - Rygbi Pontypridd - Official Website / Y Wefan Swyddogol - The Valleys' Premier Team.

The Pontypridd clubhouse bar was packed out on Saturday evening 20th May, as players, officials and supporters turned out in strength to witness the club's annual awards ceremony. There were four trophies to be handed out - for Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, and the much coveted "Bob Penberthy" Clubman of the Year award.

 

The nominations for all the awards carried greater significance this year following a highly successful campaign for Pontypridd in the Principality Premiership, and as winners of the Konica Minolta Welsh Cup.

 

The accolade of Player of the Year went to powerhouse number 8 Nathan Strong, who proved to be a model of consistency and commitment throughout an arduous winter's campaign. Nathan had joined Ponty from Bridgend in the summer of 2005, and immediately made a big impact, his experience and sheer physical presence proving to be a catalyst for all the action around him. He had also captained the team on numerous occasions, including the Welsh Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, lifting the trophy for Pontypridd. Reflecting his performances on the field, Nathan stormed to pole position in the Player of the Year award, taking 40% of the popular vote.

 

The Most Improved Player of the Year proved to be a very close vote between a number of the Ponty squad, and the trophy eventually shared by two players, lock Chris Dicomidis and hooker Leighton Davies. Towering youngster Dicomidis had made his mark in his first full season as a senior Ponty player, gaining recognition with Wales under 21s, whilst Davies had emerged from the shadow of fellow hookers Duane Goodfield and Ben Phillips to make a storming contribution, especially in Ponty's successful cup run.

 

The awards night proved to be a memorable one for flanker Lee Evans, who took two of the trophies on offer. Epitomising all that Pontypridd RFC stands for, Lee had been a model of commitment through the season, and proved typical of the squad ethos which underpins all of the club's endeavours. In reward for his undoubted efforts, Lee was nominated as Players' Player of the Year by his fellow squad members, and also picked up the Bob Penberthy trophy for Clubman of the Year.

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