Fixture

Mountain Ash RFC | 1st Team 14 - 13 Rumney RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
14 October 2019 / Team News

Mount Comeback Secures 3rd Round Place

Well done to captain Matthew Rees and the Mount squad on fronting up and coming back to win this Specsavers Plate 2nd Round tie at Duffryn Pennar Park. The foundation for the victory, though, was a sterling performance by the Mount forwards who did not take a backward step throughout and had the better of the exchanges.

Rumney went in front after 6 minutes with a 35 metre penalty from outside half Mahoney. Mount’s first chance came when flanker and captain Matthew Rees broke from a ruck up to the 22 where second row Jarrod Parfitt took the ball on. Another attack saw a high tackle by a Rumney defender penalised and wing Morgan James made no mistake from 38 metres to make it 3-3 after 8 minutes play.

An attack by Rumney saw the ball moved wide but although the Mount defence had the move covered, an attempted grubber kick through rebounded back at speed into the hands of oncoming Rumney second row Dean for the visiting player to sprint in for the first try of the afternoon from 20 metres. Mahoney converted to take his side’s lead up to 10-3.

It was approaching the end of the first quarter before the Old Firm put their first sustained attack together. A retreating Rumney scrum in the visitors’ half enthused the Mount support and the penalty gained was kicked to the corner from where the Old Firm set up camp. For the next 10 minutes, half a dozen 5 metre scrums took place, but well organised, determined defence by Rumney kept the Old Firm out and eventually the ball was cleared.

There was no respite for the visitors and some brave work at a ruck near the Rumney 22 by outside half Declan Conway resulted in a penalty to Mount which James slotted over to make it 10-6 after 33 minutes, and although Mount continued to have the better of the game until half time, there was no further scoring.

The Old Firm were made to defend straight away from the kick off to the second half as a Rumney forward was first to the ball and burst away, chipping over the defence into the Mount 22, but full back Ethan Conway did well to gather it and set up a ruck. Some loose play and then a comment to the referee cost Mount a penalty but Mahoney could not convert from 40 metres.

After 55 minutes, Mount moved the ball wide to centre Jarrod Cushion who cut through the Rumney midfield in classic style, drew the last line of defence and gave a nicely weighted pass to wing Morgan James on the Rumney 22 line. He hared away and looked as if he would finish off a superb backline move, but just 5 metres out a desperate ankle tap by a Rumney defender stopped him. From the resulting scrum, replacement centre Alex Hughes was very unlucky to be penalised when he secured the ball from a ruck set up by Rumney just 10 metres out.

The pressure continued and after securing a Rumney throw-in, a penalty to the Old Firm on the Rumney 22 was converted by James to make it 10-9 to the visitors after 59 minutes.

Both teams were not giving an inch, both packs giving it their all, with the Mount scrum having the edge.

Rumney’s visit to the Mount 22 with 10 minutes left was the first since early in the second half. An offside at a lineout gave Mahoney a penalty just outside the Mount 22 but 5 metres in from touch, which he kicked with a well-judged kick to take his side 13-9 up with 72 minutes played.

The Mount team were unphased and upped the ante, taking play into the Rumney half where replacement prop Bleddyn Lock burst through in midfield to take play into the visitors 22. A penalty to the Old Firm was kicked to the corner and further penalties were conceded by Rumney as catch and drives were illegally stopped. After another one in the 78th minute, a visiting forward was yellow carded for fringing on the side of a driving maul.

A third catch in succession by replacement second row Adam Parry and a controlled drive by the Mount pack saw Parry driven over in the corner to be awarded a try to the delight of the Mount team in the 80th minute, James’ conversion drifting wide.

The last few minutes were safely negotiated by a determined Mount defence, scrum half Morgan Cartwright kicking the ball into touch to seal the win for the Old Firm and inflict a first defeat on Rumney this season.

The Mount pack to a man put in a big shift and put the Rumney scrum under pressure throughout, which was key to the win. The front row of Tom Harper, Jack James and James Cowdry were solid, Bleddyn Lock did well when he came on, keeping up the pressure. Second rows Jarrod Parfitt and Mitchell Barnard made carries, Adam Parry took lineout ball when he came on and it was nice to see Kieron Davies back at flanker and No.8 Kriss Sanders return to the fray. Captain Matthew Rees led from the front. Outside half Declan Conway had his best game for the Old Firm, starting play with some lovely, hanging drop-outs, linking nicely and kicking important penalties to touch. Wing Morgan James is striking the ball well, both centres Jarrod Cushion and Jamie Long are settling into 1st XV rugby with every game and looking a good partnership. All the Mount players that came on contributed to a very good win. The Old Firm need more of the same this Saturday, 19 October, when Rhiwbina visit Duffryn Pennar Park for a Division 1 East Central game, kick off 2:30pm.

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