Fixture

Mountain Ash RFC | 1st Team 24 - 0 Rhiwbina RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
31 January 2022 / Team News

Bonus Point Win Takes Mount Up To 2nd

After conceding early tries in the last couple of games, the Old Firm made a better start in this Division 1 East Central game at home to 5th placed Rhiwbina. The Mount forwards were quickly into a ruck 40 metres out to win a penalty which was kicked to 10 metres out from the visitors’ line. The lineout was taken by flanker David Richards and after the ball was moved to the touchline and back again, he was worked over in the corner for the first try of the day. Full back Will Holley, making his first League appearance this season, converted with a superb kick from the touchline which made it 7-0 after 8 minutes play.

After Rhiwbina kicked the restart straight into touch, there was another chance of an attack for the Old Firm from the scrum on halfway, but a dropped pass stopped it. Rhiwbina tested the Mount defence across the field all afternoon but were met with a determined defence which kept them out.

After 18 minutes, a Rhiwbina attack took play up to the Mount 22 where pressure by Mount saw flanker Richards leap high to intercept a pass and sprint away. He made ground up to the visitors’ 22 and floated a well-directed pass out to wing Steve Brittain who was unmarked, and although tackled managed to touch down near the corner. A second touchline conversion from Holley took the Old Firm’s lead up to 14-0.

Rhiwbina were very positive in their approach to the game and attacked from all parts of the field, giving the Mount defence a good workout all afternoon. From a scrum on the Mount 22, outside half Cartwright showed a nice piece of skill with a chip over the Rhiwbina midfield which he gathered and put centre Jamie Long away, but his pass to wing Steve Brittain near the visitors’ 22 was just too long.

A penalty to Mount 15 metres out right on half time in front of the posts looked a certain three points but it rebounded off the post, Rhiwbina attacking and almost breaking break free on the Mount 10 metre line but some superb covering and a tackle by second row Daniel Phillips stopped the attack, and half time was called.

A scrum in the Mount 22 saw No.8 Jordan Burke pick up and make ground, which he did several times in the game as the visitors continued to look for their first score. A turnover on the Rhiwbina 22 saw centre Jamie Long put away, beating one man and just being forced out at the flag.

The Mount defence started to get the upper hand and smoother each Rhiwbina attack, and from a dropped pass on the visitors’ 10 metre line, a kick through and quick following up by Ewan Rees saw the flanker display his football skills with a delicate kick on which he gathered and touched down for Mount’s third try of the day to make it 19-0 after 70 minutes.

The Mount pack walked the Rhiwbina eight back at a scrum in the visitors’ half after 75 minutes and followed it up with some close-quarter passing which saw hooker Kieran Coomer go over for the bonus point fourth try to make it 24-0.

The visitors responded and took play into the Mount 22, and although being awarded a couple of penalties and trying to get over for a try in the closing minutes, the Old Firm’s defence was still well-motivated and kept Rhiwbina out.

The bonus point win takes Mount up to 2nd in the table. There is now a three week break until the next game which is away to Division 1 East club Newbridge in the last 16 of the WRU Plate on Saturday 19 February.

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