Fixture

There was plenty of vociferous support for both clubs at Duffryn Pennar Park for this ¼ final game in the Division 1 Cup, and in a typical game between two Mid District clubs, it was competitive from start to finish.

Senghenydd went in front in the first minute with a 35 metre penalty from full back James Hallett after a Mount player was offside trying to deal with the bouncing kick off.

Mount hit back in the 7^th minute from their first incursion into Senghenydd’s 22, flanker Dai Richards taking a lineout and the ball being moved into midfield where centre Jarrod Cushion took a pass at speed and raced right through the visitors’ midfield to run in unopposed from 20 metres out for a try near the posts. Outside half Callum Hall slotted over the conversion to make it 7-3.

Scrum half Ross Davies was quickly into a ruck near halfway to win Mount a penalty, Hall’s attempt from 47 metres shaving the post. Hall was again in the action when he chipped over the Senghenydd defence, caught the ball on the visitors’ 22 and nearly beat the full back as well, but he was scragged down by the visitors’ full back Hallett who saved the day for his side.

After being awarded a penalty 15 metres out the Old Firm opted for a scrum. No.8 Jordan Burke picked up and made ground, and when tackled popped the ball up to flanker Daniel Phillips and he drove over for Mount’s 2^nd try near the posts. Hall converted to make it 14-3 after 18 minutes play.

Throughout the first half, Mount hardly conceded a penalty and gave nothing away in defence as the visitors found it hard to make ground. After Senghenydd got to 15 metres out from the Mount line in injury time, a blindside snipe by the visitors’ scrum half saw the ball go loose and Mount wing Morgan James, quick as a flash, kick it up to halfway and sprint after it with the visitors’ defence all at sea. James got to the ball first and booted it on into the Senghenydd 22 where it was gathered by the full back. He jinked past James but then passed back inside straight to Mount centre Steve Brittain who made for the try line and had the ball dislodged by a desperate tackle as he was going over for a try.

After Senghenydd had the better of the territory at the start of the second half, the Old Firm scored their third try of the game after 50 minutes. A lineout take on the visitors’ 10 metre line saw Cushion again break through and link with flanker Dai Richards who took play to 15 metres out. The ball was moved quickly from the resulting ruck across the Mount backs to full back Jayden Pugh, who was in plenty of space, and he run 10 metres and dived over to finish off a good attack and take Mount’s lead up to 22-3.

The visitors hit back minutes later with a nice bit of play. From a scrum on the Mount 10 metre line, a blindside move saw full back Hallett chip over the Mount defence and beat Pugh to the ball to kick on again, pick up the ball and dive over for a well-taken try to make it 22-8.

The last quarter was dominated territorially by the visitors, but they could not break down a solid Mount defence.

With the game in the final five minutes, the Old Firm took play up to 30 metres out from the Senghenydd line where a penalty award was kicked to touch 10 metres out. After several drives the ball was moved into midfield where a couple of passes put second row Ellis Veale in space 5 metres out and he looked as if he had scored but the ball went loose and was hacked upfield with the visitors’ backs in hot pursuit. Excellent covering by Mount’s Cole Nash saw the left wing run across field to the opposite touchline and secure the ball for the Mount forwards to bring it back under control. It proved to be the last action of the game, leaving Mount to go into the semi-final draw with Builth Wells, Glynneath, and Llanelli Wanderers. Whichever club the Old Firm are up against, the game will take place at a neutral venue on a date yet to be set. Full details will be posted when known.

There’s another big game this week at Duffryn Pennar Park as top of the table Mount take on Cambrian Welfare who are 2^nd and have a game in hand. Kick off is 2:30pm.