Fixture

The Old Firm were never behind in this Division 1 East Central game against 2^nd placed Dowlais and after a tough match in which the hosts fought tooth and nail, eventually took the home team’s unbeaten record. Dowlais played down the slope with a strong wind behind them in the first half and had a penalty chance after a couple of minutes but even though both touchjudges raised their flags, the referee signalled the ball had gone wide and ordered a 22 drop-out. Mount were varying their play nicely and after the ball was thrown wide from a catch and drive, the Old Firm were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. A kick to the Dowlais 22 was expertly taken by second row David Richards – who had a fine all-round game – which the Mount forwards drove up to the Dowlais line, scrum half Ross Davies needing no second invitation to touch down from close-in for a try near the posts which wing Holley converted to make it 7-0 after 16 minutes. Shortly after, a lack of concentration at a Mount scrum led to a ball against the head from which the home team set up an attack, which eventually ended with the home full back Tom Griffin coming in at a nice angle to cut through and score midway out, outside half Steve James converting to level the score at 7-7 after 22 minutes. Prop James Cowdry and centre Alex Hughes combined in midfield to put Holley free but the home defence held. Outside half Kieron Olden was getting the Mount line moving well with the Mount backline continually probing for gaps in the home defence. A Dowlais lineout take 10 metres out from the Mount line was snaffled by flanker Chris Edmunds who passed quickly to centre Hughes, who cut through the Dowlais midfield with a good handoff but couldn’t get his pass away to wing Holley. A good recovery by scrum half Ross Davies from untidy lineout ball, which included beating a couple of tacklers near halfway, gave the Old Firm a penalty, which Holley fired into the home 22. A catch and drive up to 10 metres out put the home team under pressure again and from 10 metres out, outside half Olden made a half break and showed good strength to touch down under the posts, Holley converting to put Mount 14-7 up after 30 minutes.

The Old Firm started the second half slowly and from a couple of errors, Dowlais set up camp in the Mount 22 after 46 minutes, No.8 Lewis Ayling eventually forcing his way over from a 5 metre scrum to score near the posts, outside half James converting to level the score at 14-14. The Old Firm responded immediately, a drive by the Mount forwards taking play up to the Dowlais 22 and then a grubber kick through by full back Liam Jones taking play to just 10 metres out. Although the home team cleared the danger, the respite was short lived as another drive up to the home 22 saw prop Cowdry take the ball at pace in trade mark fashion to power his way through the first line of Dowlais close-in defence to set up a ruck just 15 metres out. Quick ball was moved into midfield where outside half Olden gave a nicely timed pass to centre Alex Hughes, who was in space, and run in unopposed under the posts to finish off a well-constructed move. Holley converted once more to put Mount 21-14 up after 58 minutes. Centre Hughes – who had his best game of the season – got away again from near the Mount 22 to cut through the home defence and make at least 40 metres before linking with fellow centre Steve Brittain, who couldn’t get his pass away as desperate Dowlais defenders closed in. Some good close quarter play by flanker Chris Edmunds, hooker Jack James and prop Thomas Harper kept the Mount pack going forward and pressurising Dowlais in their own half. After 65 minutes, a 52 metre penalty conceded by the home team was hit straight between the posts by wing Holley to great enthusiasm from the Mount support to take the lead up to 21-14. The home team were far from finished and rallied, although they came up against some determined Mount defence close-in which kept them out. With the game close to the touchline, the home touchjudge put his flag up to signal touch, but lowered it, and seconds later, a Dowlais player scored in the corner, outside half James judging the wind superbly to convert from the touchline to make it game on at 24-21 to the Old Firm after 73 minutes. With play near halfway, the Old Firm were awarded a penalty, wing Holley giving the best response possible to some daft, abusive comments from one or two home supporters by striking another beauty of a penalty from 52 metres to put his team 27-21 up. Try as they did in the final minutes, there was no way through the Mount defence in the closing minutes for the Old Firm to run out winners, which moved them up to 3^rd in the Division 1 East Central table – with a game in hand of those just above and below them - and inflict a first defeat of the season on the hosts.