The total population of Llangadog is 2,000 and they must all have been at Principality Stadium to roar on their local heroes in the WRU Division 4 Cup final.
The clash between the mid Wales farming community and the good folk of Pontyclun turned into a classic on the pitch and an amazing scene of passion and support off it as the fans of both sides cheered on their players from the first to last minute.
It was final that showcased everything that is good about Welsh rugby – from the Ospreys international back rower Harri Deaves serving breakfast rolls in the kitchen at Pontyclun before the team’s departure to Llangadog chair Telur Dyer taking to the field with his young son as the mascot.
After 80 exhausting minutes it was Pontyclun who came out on top 27-21, but the result could so easily have gone the other way. Llangadog, bursting with pride on their first visit to the home of Welsh rugby, were brilliant in defeat and pushed all the way to the end for the score that could have won them the title.
Pontyclun were forced to survive a second half scare as Llangadog hit back from 24-7 down to trail by a mere three points before finally holding out in the third of four finals in the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’ series, defending their line manfully at the death.
Rhodri Davies and Deian Thomas scored the second half tries for Llangadog as they surged back into the contest and had outside half Ceri Williams not hit the upright with a 30 metre penalty they would have drawn level at 24-24.
Both teams found it difficult to maintain possession in the opening stages, before Llangadog scrum half Tom Bailey opened the scoring in the 18th minute after he broke through The Badgers defence off the back of a scrum inside the 22. Williams converted for a 7-0 lead.
Pontyclun responded in the 28th minute through flanker Jack Clarke, who powered through two tackles from 15 metres out. Centre Nicky Theaker levelled the scores at 7-7 with the conversion.
The Badgers took the lead in the half’s final play after multiple phases of attack ended with Clarke scoring his second from five metres. That gave his side the lead and Theaker had a simple task in adding the extras.
That made it 14-7 at the break and Pontyclun went up a gear at the start of the second half as fullback Adam Lewis fended off a tackle to finish off a third try four minutes into the second half. Theaker continued to impress with his goal kicking as he added the conversion nailing a penalty in the 47th minute from 30 metres out.
Now trailing 24-7, Llangadog needed something to stay in the fight and they got a second try as fullback Davies gathered a pin point cross kick from Williams to race home in the 52nd minute. That try briefly changed the course of the game as a second cross field kick by Williams found replacement Deian Thomas out wide who was able to take the ball and score a third try for the Mid Wales club.
Then came Williams’ penalty kick that hit the upright. If that hurt, the sight of Theaker kicking a second penalty soon after only made matters worse. Llangadog returned to the attack and try scorer Thomas dropped a pass that could have led to another score following a break by centre Kasper Andreasen.
But they were unable to find the converted try their needed as the Badgers held out for the win despite being under plenty of pressure in the closing stages.
Scorers: Llangadog: Tries: Tom Bailey, Rhodri Davies, Deian Thomas; Cons: Ceri Williams 3. Pontyclun: Tries: Josh Clarke 2, Adam Lewis; Cons: Nicky Theaker 3; Pens: Nicky Theaker 2
TEAMS
Llangadog: Rhodri Davies; Iestyn Williams, Rhys Thomas, Kasper Andreasen, Ben Morgan; Ceri Williams, Tom Bailey; Llyr Thomas, Daniel Morse, Telor Dyer, Rhys Evans, Owen Williams, Tom Davies, Ioan Hughes, Charles Handford (captain)
Reps: Ioan Lewis, Tom Llewellyn, Steff Thomas, Gruff Jones, Cian Thomas, Guto Price, Lewys Jones, Deian Thomas
Pontyclun: Adam Lewis; Jacob Dennis, Luke Rose, Nicky Theaker, Morgan Stevens; Joe Williams (captain), Morgan Lloyd; Henry Legg, Sam Barclay, Iestyn Herridge, Morgan Parsons, Morgan Rose, Evan Cooke, Josh Clarke, Dan Hemmens
Reps: Dan Ruggles, Simon Pilkington, Tom Fry, Jack Theaker, Gareth Hooke, Tom Harrison, Harri Davies, Harri Stiff
GO COMPARE MAN OF THE MATCH
