Fixture

Rumney RFC | 1st Team 16 - 15 Mountain Ash RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
12 November 2018 / Team News

Valiant Effort for Old Firm in One Point Defeat

Small margins seem to dominate a lot of rugby matches these days and this has certainly been the case for the Old Firm this season. On Saturday, an away League win once again evaded Mountain Ash - as the previous two Division 1 East encounters had by 2 and 3 points respectively.

In this 2nd versus 4th place game on a Rumney pitch which was in superb condition, the hosts were first on the scoreboard with a well struck 42 metre penalty after just 2 minutes to go 3-0 up. Mount hit back five minutes later when a well-judged throw to the back of the lineout by hooker Josh Davies – who had a busy game all afternoon and threw in well - was well taken by flanker Jordan Coxley – who also had a good game in the lineout - and the ball moved into midfield where centre Kieron Davies, returning from injury, took play up to the Rumney 22. From the ruck formed, a dummy pass by scrum half Ross Davies left the home defence flat footed and he run unopposed under the posts from 20 metres to touch down, full back Jack Roberts converting to put Mount 7-3 up.

The Old Firm set up another attack from the restart taken by second row Jarrod Parfitt. Mount outside half David Richards was first to react to a half charged down kick and put right wing Alex Hughes away up to the Rumney 22. Several drives by the Old Firm took play to 15 metres out but a knock on allowed the home team to clear. A nice slip pass by Hughes to Adam Parry saw the second row run strongly to halfway where the ball was moved into midfield for No.8 Kriss Sanders to take play up to the Rumney 22, but the home defence held once again. A chip over the top of the Rumney defence by scrum half Ross Davies and quick following up saw him make an excellent tackle to stop any potential counter attack. With 25 minutes gone, the game had been almost all Mount but poor tackling in midfield saw a Rumney centre get away for the first time in the game, with the attack taking play to just 10 metres out from the Mount line. The home team had a weighty front row and looked to keep play tight close to the try line as their main line of attack. More drives followed and then four 5 metre scrums eventually saw Rumney score an unconverted try near the corner flag which put them into an 8-7 lead after 32 minutes. The home side took play back into the Mount 22 just before half time and were awarded a penalty at a scrum 15 metres out which was kicked to give them an 11-7 lead after 37 minutes. Right on half time, Mount captain Jarrod Parfitt was yellow carded for infringing.

Although a man down, the Old Firm started the second half by upping the tempo and taking the game to Rumney, but a penalty award to the Old Firm just outside the home 22 was frustratingly kicked dead to leave the home team off the hook. Mount attacked again from the restart and took play up to just outside the Rumney 22. A half break by scrum half Ross Davies and a quick pass to Alex Hughes looked to have put the wing away with only the full back to beat but the referee gave a forward pass and a Rumney scrum.

The pressure continued and a penalty to Mount on the home 22 was quickly taken by centre Kieron Davies to take play to 15 metres out where another penalty was awarded, this time full back Roberts kicking it to reduce Rumney’s lead to 11-10 after 49 minutes.

Second row Parfitt returned for Mount and some resolute defending by the Old Firm in their 22, with scrum half Ross Davies in the forefront – as he was all game, having a superb game and playing like an extra flanker - earned Mount a penalty to clear downfield. Some nice handling by the Old Firm took play up to the Rumney 22 where a penalty award from the 22 metre line went narrowly wide.

Both lineouts had been good throughout the game and from a Rumney lineout 15 metres out from the Mount line, the hosts used their main weapon of attack, a drive, to score an unconverted try to go 16-10 up. This Old Firm team is never beaten though, and from a lineout take by No.8 Kriss Sanders near halfway, the ball was moved to centre Kieron Davies who took the ball at pace to make ground up to the Rumney 22. Fully half a dozen phases and interpassing continued the attack, with second row Matthew Dixon getting over in the corner to finish off a superb attack and bring Mount back to 16-15 down after 67 minutes. Full back Roberts struck the conversion beautifully but unluckily it hit an upright and rebounded out.

Some excellent defending and scrummaging by the Mount eight, with the Rumney front row starting to come under pressure from a sterling effort by Matthew Dixon in the second row, earned the Old Firm a penalty to clear the ball.

With five minutes left, the Rumney midfield defence was split wide open by a strong run by flanker Jarrod Morgan but there was no close support near him as he approached the 22 where he was tackled by the full back. Rumney cleared but another Mount attack from a lineout saw a drive by second row Jarrod Parfitt who passed to oncoming outside half David Richards who took play midway into the home 22, but the ball was lost and Rumney breathed again.

Although the home team were reduced to 14 by a yellow card, it was too late for the Old Firm to take advantage of, leaving Rumney the victors of a close match which could have gone either way. The 4 league points for the win takes them up to 3rd place in the Division 1 East table, with the bonus point Mount gained keeping them in 4th place in a very tight division.

At the end of Saturday’s games, Rhiwbina are top with 27 points from 7 games, Glamorgan Wanderers are 2nd with 25 from 8 games, Rumney are 3rd with 25 from 7 games, and the Old Firm are 4th with 23 from 8 games played. Clearly, there is everything to play for, with the team able to string four or five successive wins together likely to go top of the table.

Next up for the Old Firm is a home Division 1 East Central match against Treorchy at Duffryn Pennar Park on Saturday, 24 November. The kick off time has not yet been confirmed. It may be a bit earlier than the usual 2:30pm due to the Wales v South Africa International match at the Principality Stadium kicking off at 5:20pm. More details will be made available as soon as they are known.

There is a 2nd XV game this Wednesday, 14 November, at Duffryn Pennar Park. Mountain Ash 2nd XV play Cilfynydd 2nd XV, kick off 7:15pm.

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