Fixture

Mount opened their League season with a superb try in the opening minute. Full back Iestyn Robins, making his League debut, caught a long kick up to the Old Firm’s 22, made ground at pace, side-stepped a would-be tackler, and passed inside to another League debutant, centre Cole Nash, who sprinted in from 35 metres for a superb opening try of the season. Outside half Declan Conway converted midway out to make it 7-0. Ynysybwl full back Joseph Williams reduced his side’s arrears to 7-3 with a well-struck 40 metre penalty, one of three he kicked in a fine display of long-range goal kicking during the match.

Mount flanker David Richards was onto the fumbled restart and started an attack which led to a penalty award to the Old Firm, converted by Conway from 10 metres out to make it 10-3.

No.8 Jordan Burke worked hard all game for Mount, always on the ball and running strongly. Flanker Richards also took good ball in the lineouts.

Pressure by Mount in the ‘bwl 22 was rewarded when flanker Matthew Rees got a close-in touchdown to increase the Old Firm’s lead to 15-3 after 20 minutes.

A second excellent kick by ‘bwl full back Williams, this time from 45 metres, wide out, reduced Mount’s lead to 15-6. With 5 minutes to half time, another superb strike by Williams, this time from 48 metres, made it 15-9.

Flanker Dai Richards made a superb catch to Conway’s high hanging restart. Pressure from the Old Firm saw centre Alex Hughes and prop James Cowdry take play up to the ‘bwl line, where hooker Kieran Coomer got over for Mount’s third try of the half, Conway converting to take the Old Firm into half time 22-9 up.

Early in the second half, some nice interpassing by the Mount backrow took play into the ‘bwl 22. From a ruck, the ball was moved wide for a chance of a try, but the overlap was not used and the ‘bwl cleared. Flanker Dai Richards was having an all-action game, chasing a kick upfield from the Mount 22 and winning a penalty, and then charging down a ‘bwl clearance kick.

With 58 minutes on the clock, the Old Firm attacked from a lineout in the ‘bwl half. Prop Geraint Lock put in a strong run in the ‘bwl 22, fellow prop Cowdry took play up to the line, but it was hard-working No.8 Jordan Burke who drove over for the bonus point try and a 27-9 lead.

A well-judged penalty out of hand from an acute angle by outside half Conway took play from halfway to 10 metres out from the ‘bwl line. From the lineout win, the ball was moved wide to full back Robins who was tackled 10 metres out. Wing Arfon Davies did well to secure the loose ball and set up a ruck from which another attack had the ‘bwl defence stretched and led to another converted try and a 34-9 lead after 67 minutes.

The Old Firm were full of running, and from the restart taken by second row Jarrad Parfitt, No.8 Burke, who run hard all afternoon, made a half break and slipped a pass to centre Nash who burned through the ‘bwl defence and round the full back to touch down midway out for a superbly taken try, which Conway converted to take the Old Firm’s lead up to 41-9.

With the game entering the last minutes, a handling error by the ‘bwl saw centre Nash get away, draw the last line of defence and give a well-timed pass to wing Arfon Davies for him to run in from 20 metres for the Old Firm’s 7^th try of the afternoon and his first on his debut for Mount. Conway converted to make it 48-9.

There will be a tough test for the Old Firm this Saturday at Duffryn Pennar Park when Rumney visit for a Division 1 East Central game, kick off 2:30pm.