Club Dinner and Presentation Evening

Pontypool Rugby Football Club celebrated another fantastic season with around 200 guests at the annual club dinner at The Parkway Hotel and Spa in Cwmbran on Friday, writes Ray Ruddick.

It was another historic campaign with the club being crowned WRU National Championship champions for the third consecutive season, and a second successive invincible league season, again winning all 22 games. The club also enjoyed an impressive WRU National Cup run, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1991.

The evening was compered by Peter Jeffreys, executive chairman of Pontypool RFC, and the guest speakers were former Pooler legends John Perkins and Terry Cobner, who had their audience laughing with some humorous stories from their playing days. Also in attendance were two-thirds of the famous Pontypool Front Row – Club President Graham Price and Tony ‘Charlie’ Faulkner, former Pooler and Wales hooker Nigel Meek and Pontypool’s record points scorer with over 3,500 points, former Wales B full back Peter Lewis.

The awards were as follows: Captain’s Award – Rob Nash (not present); Supporters’ Player of the Year – Curtis Gregory; Highest Points Scorer – Kieran Meek (83); Highest Try Scorer – Lloyd Lewis (14); Most Promising Player – Joel Mahoney; Players’ Player of the Year – Curtis Gregory; M5 Associates Award (Sponsor) – Danny Hodge; 250+ Appearances – Jamie Jeune (251); 50+ Appearances – Kieran Meek (70), Aaron Coundley (60), Matthew Jones (51) and Martin Luckwell (51).

Twenty-nine of the playing squad were in attendance and each was presented with their WRU National Championship-winning medal – Craig Price, Curtis Gregory, Ben Parry, Corey Hewlett, Mike Herbert, Kieran Meek, Ceri Morris, Cameron Watson-Boycott, Martin Luckwell, Rhodri Usher, Matthew Jones, Lewis Ball, Richard East, Matthew Lewis, Ben Sparks, Craig Attwell, Jordan Thomas, Aaron Quick, Jamie Jeune, Scott Matthews, Dan Robinson, Joel Mahoney, Geraint Walsh, Lloyd Lewis, Danny Hodge, Clayton Gullis, Aaron Coundley, Darren Hughes and Marcus Jones.

The two most prestigious awards are the Player of the Season and Clubman of the Season, which is now called the Chairman’s Award, in memory of the club’s late chairman, Barrie Calder-Matthews.

Hooker Darren Hughes and flanker Scott Matthews were the joint winners of the player of the season for their consistently good performances throughout the campaign.

The Chairman’s Award went to rugby assistant Peter Jackson.

Peter has been baggage man for the club for over 40 years.His fellow kit man for most of that time was his great friend, the late Terry ‘Tiger’ Simons, who sadly passed away in October.Peter attends almost every training session and every match, preparing the kit for the players and has been rewarded for his dedication and commitment to the club.