Pontypridd 42-48 ‘Raikes & Stuckey Select XV’ – Testimonial Match Report

The sun shines on the righteous so they say, and so it was as club stalwarts Joel Raikes and Dale Stuckey led their Select XV on to the pitch, accompanied by young family members, for this celebration match. The contest had a surreal aura at times, such as club waterboy Stuart Williams taking the conversions for the guest team, and some veteran ‘old boys’ coming out of retirement to give of their best, but it was also a keenly contested game throughout with some fine passages of play.

Ponty went close early on as hooker Dylan Kelly was held up short but flanker Ben Bora then crossing for the first try which was converted by outside half Charlie Hancock. A close fought encounter to come was typified as the Select XV enjoyed a period of pressure, flanker Dan Watts touching down with Joel Raikes’ conversion rebounding off a post. The guest team forged further ahead through an Alex Webber interception try, the conversion drop-kick by Stuart Williams hitting the crossbar. After winger Louis Rochefort-Shugar had been hauled down, Ponty scrum half Lloyd Dennett was up in support to cross for a try which Hancock converted, but the lead once more changing after a breakaway try by Select XV back rower Morgan Sieniawski, which Williams the waterboy converted.

Play was frenetic with errors made but both sides committed to attack, Ponty next on the scoreboard following a wide attack as full back Rhodri Hext went over, his try converted by Hancock. Man of the moment Dale Stuckey then sliced through the Ponty defence to score, before the Select XV extended their lead after a Joe Scrivens break, as Lewis Ryan went over with Williams, by now a master of the drop-kick, converting. The first period ended in a mix of turnovers and counter-attacks, before lock Joe Buckle powered over for a Pontypridd try, the conversion by Hancock registering an interval scoreline of 28pts to 29.

It was sometimes difficult to assess how many players were on the pitch with many comings and goings off both benches, as the first eight minutes of the second half remained scoreless. The try-fest resumed as Charlie Hancock launched a big cross kick which Rochefort-Shugar fielded to score for Ponty, with Hancock again converting. The Select XV responded with a period of pressure before centre Gary Williams claimed a try, converted by Williams, and again extended their lead with a wide attack culminating in a try claimed by Adam Thomas and converted by Williams. There were tired bodies out on the pitch with errors being made but no let-up in the tempo of play, Ponty spreading the ball along the back line for centre Callum Coxley to cross for a try, converted by Hancock. The last word fittingly went to the guest team as centre Alex Knott latched on to a Joel Raikes high kick to score the final try, securing a Select XV victory by 42pts to 48 following a pulsating encounter.

FULL TIME: Pontypridd 42-48 ‘Joel Raikes & Dale Stuckey Select XV’ (2/8/2025)

Match report – Guto Davies

Pontypridd:

15.Rhodri Hext. 14.Iwan Griffith. 13.Stuart Floyd-Ellis. 12.Callum Coxley. 11.Louis Rochefort-Shugar. 10.Charlie Hancock. 9.Lloyd Dennett.

1.Ben Drew. 2.Dylan Kelly. 3.Kian Mattravers. 4.Mitch Barnard. 5.Joe Buckle. 6.Ben Bora. 7.Jordan Coxley. 8.Rhys Emmott.

Subs (all used): Owen Parry / Rhys Conquer / Jaydan Pugh / George Thorrington / Luc Morrish / Tom Fry / Dan Cotterell / Connah Hughes / Taylor Coles / Ieuan Davies / Iolo Howe / Evren Ozilben / Aled Evans / Iestyn Harris.

Tries: Ben Bora; Lloyd Demmett;  Rhodri Hext; Joe Buckle; Louis Rochefort-Shugar; Callum Coxley.

Cons: Charlie Hancock x 6.

Select XV:

15.Lloyd Rowlands. 14.Alex Webber. 13.Alex Knott. 12.Dafydd Lockyer. 11.Dale Stuckey. 10.Lewis K Williams. 9.Joel Raikes.

1.Andrew Headford. 2.Curtis Greenslade. 3.Joe Popple. 4.Ian Edwards. 5.Lloyd Evans. 6.Matthew Nuthall. 7.Dan Watts. 8.Morgan Sieniawski.

Subs (all used): Cody Baker / Rhodri Smith / Lewis Ryan / Lewis Montague / Jordan Rees / Matthew Jones / Jordan Howells / Joe Scrivens / Dai Jones / Gwilym Edwards / Sam May / Ethan Coombes / Jake Lewis.

Tries: Dan Watts; Alex Webber; Morgan Sieniawski; Dale Stuckey; Lewis Ryan; Gary Williams; Adam Thomas; Alex Knott.

Cons: Stuart Williams x 4

Referee: Dai Cambourne

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