PONTYPOOL & District RFU Juniors travelled to Italy for the 15th successive year to take part in the Venice Paeses RFC annual rugby tournament.

This year's tour party consisted of 36 players, 12 officials and 58 parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.

In Italy, the Pontypool boys must compete in the under-12 competitions as the Italians teams combine boys of both under 12 and under 11 in a two-year cycle. The tournament consisted of 24 teams split into eight groups of three.

First up for the Pooler team was the Valsugana team, who had no answer to the strength of the Pooler forwards led by captain Max Woodward and ably supported by Harry Fernandez Ford, Jack Gadd, Ryan Jones and James Talamai.

The abundance of possession supplied by the forwards enabled the backs to cross for five of the tries. The final score was 7-0 with Hadyn Lewis (2), Mackenzie James (2), Cai Gibbs, Ryan Jones and James Teague crossing.

The second game proved to be a rather far more difficult encounter. The Pooler boys kept a very tight grip on this game giving the Asolo team very little opportunity to threaten their try line.

The Pooler boys ran out winners 2-0 with Harry Fernandez Ford and Hadyn Lewis crossing.

The quarter-final game was against Cus Padova, a team which has caused Pontypool problems in the past.

Pontypool took early control of the game, playing some outstanding rugby. Morgan Carter, Wayne Thomas, Hadyn Lewis and Harry Fernandez Ford crossed to make the final score 4-1.

Pooler faced a semi-final against a very strong and big San Donna team. This team was extremely big and powerful with one boy twice the size of any of the Pooler boys and standing 6ft 3ins tall.

He proved an extremely difficult opponent to bring down and caused the Pooler boys a great deal of problems with his surging runs.

The spoils were shared 3-3 after a late score by Gus Padova. Mackenzie James, Harry Fernandez Ford and Jack Gadd crossed for the Pooler tries.

The Pooler boys were awarded the place in the final by the age rule which the Italians use as they were much younger than their hosts

It was a clash of the Welsh champions versus the Italian champions Petraca, another team that Pooler had met in past finals.

The Pooler boys once again turned on an outstanding display of attacking rugby winning a constant supply of possession to deny Petraca very few attacking opportunities.

Pooler ran out winners by four tries to none with Hadyn Lewis (2), Cai Gibbs and Danny Hutchinson scoring. Outstanding for Pooler in the final was Harry Fernandez Ford and Fullback Wayne Thomas.

It must be said that the referee who took charge of the final proved to be the best at the tournament and handled the game superbly.

This win was the fifth in succession at the Venice Paese RFC tournament and followed on from the Pontypool Schools win in the DC Thomas Final at Principality Stadium a month ago. This completed Pooler's most outstanding season to date.

The Pooler second team, the Tigers, consisting of the younger boys in the tour party turned in credible performances winning their first game against Travisium 5-1. Ieuan Rowlands (2), Evan weeks, Will Morgan and Regan Jones crossed.

Game two was against Valsugana with the team winning 8-0. Ieuan Rowlands crossed for three tries with Teddy Smith Mine, Harri Brown, Maddoc, Will Morgan and Will Stonuary also crossing.

Game three was against a strong Castellan side and the Pooler boys lost 4-0.

Game four was against Foscarini and the Pooler boys went down 5-3 with Teddy Smith Milne, Logan Snell and Jake Jenkins scoring. Their final game was against Cus Padova, which they lost 4-2.

All the boys can be very proud of their efforts which will stand them in good stead for the future.

Off the field the boys and parents can be very proud of their fundraising efforts, amassing a total of £1,607.

A small representation of players and staff met representatives from the St David's Hospice, Malpas to present the cheque. The hospice recently cared for Wynford Landry, a former coach of the Pooler Schools under-11s who recently died.

Any boys or girls interested in joining the Pontypool and District team can contact secretarty Dawson Jones on 07767 816003.

The first trial is on September 1 at New Panteg RFC (10am) and further information will be distributed to the clubs and schools in the district.

Pooler will hold their annual presentation evening at Pontypool United RFC on Wednesday, June 27 (7pm start).

POOLER LIONS

Cameron Stewart, Max Woodward Capt. James Talamai, Harry Fernandez Ford, Jack Gadd, Ryan Jones, Teihiti Chatham, Luke Daniels, Cameron Tovey, Mackenzie James, Morgan carter, Hadyn Lewis, Cai Gibbs, Aneurin Evans, Danny Hutchinson, Rhs Bollen, Wayne Thomas.

POOLER TIGERS

Teddy Smith Milne, Ieuan Hockaday, Maddoc Samuels, Regan Jones, Charlie Price, Dylan Allenridge, James Davies Capt. Jake Jenkins, Evan Weeks, Ieuan Rowlands, Will Morgan, Logan Snell, Harri Brown, Jac Blake, Evan Cook, Will Stonuary, Alex James, Harri Leek, Tom Howard