For Star Wars fanatics May 4th, or May The 4th Be With You day is arguably their favourite day of every calendar year. For Pontypridd RFC fanatics it’s also a date that is etched into the Club’s proud history with three of Ponty’s six Welsh Cup Final wins all having taken place on this day over the years.
On Saturday May 4th 1996, the Club famously secured it’s maiden Welsh Cup against Neath. Having lost in the showpiece event the previous season Ponty were finally hoping 1996 would be the year the proverbial monkey would finally get off the team’s back. At half time it was looking highly unlikely, but a superb second half comeback against an excellent Neath side that would go onto become crowned League Champions a couple of weeks later saw the Valley Commandos seal a dramatic 29-22 win.
Captain Nigel Bezani hoisting the 1996 Welsh Cup along with Phil John, next to Steele Lewis in what has become an iconic image in Welsh rugby.
Then 17 years later in 2013, Pontypridd and Neath met again on Saturday May 4th in the final, and it was a similar story for Ponty who found themselves trailing at the break against the Welsh All Blacks by 13 points to 9. Ponty harnessed the second-half spirit of 1996 to score second half tries through wing Chris Clayton and hooker Darren Harris to turn the match around and run out 34-13 winners. Dai Flanagan also amongst the points scorers with 14 from his boot.
The Class of 2013 lifting the Welsh Cup. Two weeks later the team secured the double when they defeated Llanelli at Sardis Road to be crowned League Champions.
A year later on Sunday May 4th 2014, Pontypridd were back at the Millennium Stadium to take on Cross Keys. Fly-half Simon Humberstone played a starring role for Ponty kicking two penalties, a conversion and a drop-goal for an 11-point haul. Craig Locke and Gavin Dacey bagged a try apiece to secure a 21-8 win and with it back-to-back Welsh Cup wins for Pontypridd.
Two weeks after the 2014 cup triumph, Ponty secured the ‘double-double’ when they beat Cross Keys at Sardis Road to lift the League Championship trophy.
So there you have it, May The 4th Be With You Ponty fans…
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