Pontyclun came out on top in a dramatic WRU Division 4 Cup final, winning 27-21 against Llangadog
16:04, 19 Apr 2026
Pontyclun captain Joe Williams lifts the trophy with the team(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Pontyclun edged out Llangadog in a dramatic WRU Division 4 Cup final on Sunday, winning 27-21 at the Principality Stadium.
Two tries from openside Josh Clarke and 12 points from the boot of Nicky Theaker laid the platform for cup success for Pontyclun, with player of the match Joe Williams pulling the strings.
Mid Walians Llangadog were a worthy opponent, with victory slipping through their fingers right at the end.
Wales flanker Harri Deaves had been up early on Sunday morning, having helped the Ospreys to a vital URC win over the Sharks the previous night, to prepare the bacon rolls for Pontyclun’s trip to the Principality Stadium.
Even after ascending to Test rugby earlier this season, the 24-year-old has remained a constant at his local rugby club – coaching, doing the laundry and helping out however he can. Almost immediately after he had won his first Wales cap against the All Blacks this season, Deaves was back in Pontyclun’s clubhouse to celebrate.
Along with the 37 youth players he coaches, Deaves would have been delighted as his hometown club won a dramatic final at the home of Welsh rugby.
In particular, the efforts of openside Clarke would have caught his eye.
“It’s unbelievable,” admitted Clarke afterwards. The flanker has played for Neath at the stadium before, but doing it for his hometown club “hits a little bit different”.
“It’s a surreal experience, this is my boyhood club. We’ve got over 1,000 supporters here. They’re over the moon!
“I think one or two of them had flares on the way in! The coppers drove past, so they were a bit lucky not to get stopped! The other coaches have come down from Pontyclun, from the juniors to the old people. You can’t fault that.
“I’m supposed to me in college on an electrical course on Monday. I did hint they might not see me until the afternoon!”
After a nervy start to the final, Llangadog settled sooner – with scrum-half Tom Bailey opening the scoring.
The 31-year-old support worker danced his way over from the back of a scrum to touch down.
Having not had much of a sniff, Pontyclun ended the half in fine fashion.
Fittingly, given Deaves’ presence, it was openside Clarke who turned the game in their favour with two scores before the break.
The first saw him, in a similar vein to the Ospreys back-row, burst through a gap and evade the final man to stretch over.
Then, after the delightful hands of fly-half and captain Williams put centre Theaker through gaps twice in quick succession to get the Badgers within touching distance of the line, Clarke burrowed over the line to end the first-half with his second score.
Pontyclun remained on top after the break, with full-back Adam Lewis finishing off a fine move out wide.
After Llangadog had dared to run it from deep, Clarke got over the ball for a penalty – which Theaker knocked over to build their lead.
However, Llangadog weren’t finished, with full-back Rhodri Davies latching onto a kick-pass after some red-zone pressure to score their second try.
Then, with 25 minutes to go, Deian Thomas took down a high cross-field kick in one hand to race away.
That score reduced Pontyclun’s lead to just three points, with the momentum having firmly shifted once again.
Ceri Williams had a chance to level the scores, but his penalty clattered the uprights.
Theaker made no mistake with a penalty of his own to make it a six-point game heading into the final 10 minutes.
Llangadog had chances in the dying minutes, throwing everything at Pontyclun.
With the clock in the red, it looked as though Llangadog would snatch victory – hammering away at the Badgers’ line time and time again.
However, a huge effort saw Pontyclun win a scrum against the head to seal victory.
Llangadog
Tries: Tom Bailey, Rhodri Davies, Deian Thomas; Cons: Ceri Williams x3
Pontyclun
Tries: Josh Clarke x2, Adam Lewis; Cons: Nicky Theaker x3; Pens: Nicky Theaker x2
Llangadog: Rhodri Davies; Iestyn Williams, Rhys Thomas, Kasper Anderson, Ben Morgan; Ceri Williams, Tom Bailey; Llyr Thomas, Daniel Morse, Telor Dyer, Rhys Evans, Owen Williams, Tom Davies, Ioan Hughes, Charles Handford.
Replacements: 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, Morgan Lloyd; Henry Legg, Sam Barclay, Iestyn Herridge, Morgan Parsons, Morgan Rose, Evans Cooke, Josh Clarke, Dan Hemmens.
Replacements: Dan Ruggles, Simon Pilkington, Tom Fry, Jack Theaker, Gareth Hooke, Tom Harrison, Harri Deaves, Harri Stiff.