Next month, Pontypool Park will once again play host to the finals of the Pontypool RFC Schools Cup. The 2017-2018 season, which marked the first year of the competition, saw Year 8 teams from high schools across Torfaen take part, as the club strived to play a greater positive role in the county through the competition and the implementation of its wider community initiative.
This season has seen the competition return, with the welcome addition of Year 7 and Year 9 teams. The group stages of the competition took place earlier in the season, with teams playing each other home and away. The results then determined whether the sides would contest the Bowl, Plate or Cup final at the Park in May.
Pontypool RFC's Community Outreach Coordinator, Tony Clarke, who works closely with the school teams involved, is looking forward to another successful set of finals.
"This will be the second year of the competition, after what was a bit of a tester year last season. Last year's competition proved a real success and generated a lot of interest from schools in the area. As a result, the club agreed to facilitate an expanded competition involving Year 7 and Year 9 teams.
"We are looking to forge even greater ties with the local community and the competition is one of a number of ways in which we are trying to do that. We hope the pupils enjoy being involved in the competition and it helps to push their rugby to a higher standard.
"Rugby clubs have played an important role in their local communities for a long time and Pontypool RFC is no different. We believe in using rugby as a vehicle to promote a healthy lifestyle and sporting mindset among the younger generation and we hope to continue making a difference for years to come," said Clarke.
The finals for each year group will take place as follows:
Wednesday May 1st 2019 – Year 7:
Bowl - St Albans versus Ysgol Gwynllyw. (kick off 12.30pm)
Plate - Abersychan versus Cwmbran. (kick off 1.45pm)
Cup - Croesyceiliog versus West Monmouth. (kick off 3.00pm)
Wednesday May 8th – Year 8:
Bowl - Abersychan versus Brynmawr. (kick off 12.30pm)
Plate - St Albans versus Croesyceiliog. (kick off 1.45pm)
Cup - West Monmouth versus Ysgol Gwynllyw. (kick off 3.00pm)
Wednesday May 15th - Year 9:
Bowl - West Monmouth versus Brynmawr (kick off 12.30pm)
Plate - Ysgol Gwynllyw versus Abersychan (kick off 1.45pm)
Cup - St Albans versus Croesyceiliog (kick off 3.00pm)
