Report written by Brian Lee.

It's sometimes OK to start at the end. Game long finished, everyone in Kickers Bar waiting for Players of the Match presentations to begin and Ponytycymer stalwart Dai Lacey takes the mic. Dai spoke quietly but with a great deal of conviction and authority about the importance of men talking to someone if they are struggling with issues, emotional or physical, and the role rugby communities can play in supporting individuals who might be struggling. This was one of the driving forces behind Pontycymer starting a Vets team, "to keep the boys together, to support each other and for someone to be there to listen' as Dai said. Wow. Back in the day when Dai was playing it is almost unthinkable somebody would have been so publicly open discussing mental health and it is a sign of the progress the sport has made that speeches like this can be delivered and received so warmly by those listening. Well done Dai. Serious stuff over the usual celebrations began and from the outset a huge thanks to Pontycymer for travelling to Monks Lane for what turned out to be a great rugby occasion. Let us hope the Bulldogs make their own journey to the Garw Valley in the not too distant future. Music in a rammed Kickers Bar until late on, great chat between players and supporters from both teams, and a huge thanks to those who organised this fixture, particularly Bulldogs captain James McCarthy who is as passionate as Dai Lacey about the importance of Veterans rugby. If this is what Veterans rugby is all about give us more. The post match atmosphere in Kickers Bar was as good as it gets.

Newbury, Pontycymer, it seems a bit random on the surface but the first time the teams played each other was in 2005. Ivor Evans' family were originally from Pontycymer and although Ivor has lived in Lambourn for many years he has kept in close contact with Pontycymer RFC. It was Ivor who approached Newbury in 2005 to organise a game. Without wishing to state the obvious this couldn't exactly be called a biennial fixture and there must be word for something happening every twenty years, or almost every twenty years. Apprarently it's vicennial, so our (almost) vicennial fixture took place last weekend and resulted in a win for our visitors 14-29. The only blemish on a great day was the serious jaw dislocation to one of the visiting players. He was taken to hospital and from Newbury RFC all the very best for a speedy recovery.

As for the match a special shout out Pontycymer's Tony Evans. Sixty nine and still playing. Some feat. For much of the first half Bulldogs were under pressure from the visitors, whose number 10, Ross Pearce controlled the game expertly, with well placed field kicks to pin Bulldogs back for much of the half. Given the wet conditions this was exactly the right approach to the game and it resulted in two early tries for Pontycymer. Bulldogs found it hard to get a foothold in the so called, "red zone" and did well to limit the visitors to three first half tries.

The second half saw Bulldogs play with a little more confidence and soon scored their first try. Andy Hickson caught a high ball and set off down the left wing. An inside pass to Nigel Swan and a swift transfer to James McCarthy saw James over the try line. A rugby trivia question here. What has James and ex Bath player Freddie Burns got in common? If you haven't seen it search up on You Tube, Bath's game against Toulouse in a 2018 Heineken Cup game. Unfortunately the greasy ball slipped out of James' hand in a tackle but fortunately it went backwards and the ever-alert Nigel Swan scored the try. It's great when individuals don't take themselves too seriously and fair do's to James for awarding himself DOD! Good on you James.

After this try Bulldogs had their best period of the game and piled on a lot of pressure, which was rewarded with a second try ten minutes later, Player of the Match Nigel Cripps powering over after a strong forwards drive from Bulldogs. Tony Flynn slotted the second of his two conversions to bring the score back to 14-22. Pontycymer responded strongly to Bulldogs' second try and ran in their final try in the last play of the game to make the final score 14-29.

Many thanks to all who turned up to support both teams. Veterans rugby is good to get involved in and any aspiring over 35's out there will be more than welcomed into this rather exclusive group of players! Here's to the next match.

Brian Lee