Pontypool dominate the Talywain Sevens

Ten teams entered the annual Talywain Sevens at Emlyn Park on a pleasant summer’s day on Saturday with Pontypool having two teams on show and they reached the final without losing a game, writes Ray Ruddick.

Pontypool Blues accounted for Talywain, Garndiffaith and West Mon, while Pontypool Hoops gained victories over Croesyceiliog, Abergavenny and Blaenavon.

Results: Pontypool Blues 31 Talywain 5; Pirates 19, Croesyceiliog 0; Garndiffaith 26 West Mon 10; Nantyglo 28 Abergavenny 7; Talywain 35 Blaenavon 7; Pontypool Hoops 40 Croseyceiliog 5; Pontypool Blues 50 Garndiffaith 0; Nantyglo 21 Pirates 14, Blaenavon 31 West Mon 7; Pontypool Hoops 52 Abergavenny 5; Talywain beat Garndiffaith; Croesyceiliog 21 Nantyglo 19; Pontypool Blues 63 West Mon 0; Pirates 31 Abergavenny 0; Talywain 33 West Mon 0. Pontypool Hoops 35 Blaenavon 10; Croesyceiliog 26 Abergavenny 14.

Pontypool scorers in the early matches: Blues – Marcus Jones 5 tries, 3 cons; Jordan Thomas 3 tries, 2 cons; Pat Lewis 3 tries, 1 con; Sam Taylor 3 tries, 1 con; Kieran Meek 2 tries, 8 cons; Aaron Quick 2 tries, 1 con; Owain Leonard 2 tries; Lewis Ball 1try; Curtis Gregory 1 try; Tom Hancock 1 con.Hoops –Lloyd Lewis 8 tries, 5 cons; Joel Mahoney 4 tries, 4 cons; Adam Stratton 2 tries, 1 con; Matthew Lewis 1 try, 3 cons; Gareth Rusby-Davies 1 try, 1con; George Collins 1 try; Clayton Lewis 1 try; Ben Sparks 1 try; Martin Luckwell 1 con; Rob Tovey 1con.Also played – Harry Green (Hoops); Amosa Nove (Hoops) and Sione Tu’ipulotu (Blues).

The final: Pontypool Blues team – Jordan Thomas (replaced by Sam Taylor), Pat Lewis, Kieran Meek, Owain Leonard, Curtis Gregory, Lewis Ball (replaced by Sione Tu’ipulotu), Marcus Jones.Pontypool Hoops team – Lloyd Lewis, Amosa Nove, Joel Mahoney, Aaron Quick (replaced by Rob Tovey), Ben Sparks, Adam Stratton, George Collins (replaced by Clayton Lewis). Referee: Aaron Parry (Sebastopol).

The Blues went into half time with a 12-0 advantage thanks to tries by Marcus Jones and Lewis Ball with Jones converting his own try.They proved too strong for the Hoops with second half tries by Jordan Thomas and Sione Tu’ipulotu, Kieran Meek kicking the conversion of Thomas’ try and slotting a penalty goal.The Hoops’ consolation try was scored by Joel Mahoney who also added the conversion.Final score – Pontypool Blues 27 Pontypool Hoops 7.