Fixture

After scoring three tries in the first half hour of this game and converting two of them to lead 19-3, the Old Firm looked set for more of the same during the rest of the game, but they flattered to deceive and fell away. All game, they were tremendous in defence, competing for every ball, covering the width of the pitch and tackling well, but a load of penalties conceded in the second half and a failure to reach touch with quite a number of kicks gave Tondu a way back into the game, and they dominated the second half territorially just like Mount had in the first.

A grubber kick by full back Declan Conway took play into the Tondu 22. Mount pressure led to a penalty which was kicked for a 5 metre lineout. Flanker Dai Richards took the ball and after the Mount pack had driven on, hooker and captain Jarrad Parfitt had no problem touching down. Outside half Liam Jones converted to make it 7-0 after 9 minutes play.

Some excellent play by the Old Firm from their 22 saw the forwards make ground to halfway and then scrum half Morgan Cartwright put in a well-directed kick to take play to 15 metres out from the visitors’ line. Once again Mount pressure was rewarded with another catch and drive, and a second try for hooker Parfitt, which went unconverted, making the score 12-0 to Mount after 25 minutes.

A 35 metre penalty award to Tondu in the middle of the field from the restart was kicked by outside Luke Whittal, which made it 12-3, but Mount were soon back on the attack and took play to just 5 metres out. Although it was a Tondu throw-in, the Mount forwards won the ball, albeit untidily, but it made no difference as scrum half Morgan Cartwright tidied it up and then jinked over for his third try in two games and the Old Firm’s third of the game. Outside half Jones kicked an excellent conversion from wide out to extend the Mount lead to 19-3 after half hour.

The Old Firm started the second half by looking to move the ball. A four on two in the Tondu half was wasted with a wayward pass which scuppered a good chance. The penalties to Tondu and the failure to make touch with clearance kicks all led to the visitors camping for the most-part in the Mount half where they were met by a determined, well-organised Mount defence. Second row Daniel Phillips was noticeable for the work he got through.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes, a yellow card reduced the Mount forwards to seven, but they still nudged the Tondu eight back at a scrum just outside the visitors’ 22 and won the ball. Some nice handling by outside half Jones, replacement centre Alex Hughes, hooker Jarrad Parfitt, and full back Will Holley put wing Rhys Davies away from 25 metres out. He made ground and passed inside to flanker Dai Richards who was tackled metres out. The ball was quickly recycled and moved into midfield where replacement second row Adam Parry beat one defender and scored Mount’s fourth try of the game. Outside half Jones converted from in front of the posts to make it 26-3.

To be fair to Division 1 West Central club Tondu, they were competitive all afternoon, and were far from finished. Pressure in the Mount 22, once again helped by penalties awarded against the Old Firm, saw them squeeze over for their first try of the game, which Whittal converted to reduce their arrears to 26-10. Deep into injury time, a Mount attack in the Tondu 22 which took play up to 5 metres out saw the ball spilled. A Tondu kick out of defence, which was not gathered and bounced, was won back by a Tondu player got away up to halfway. His kick ahead into the open space of the Mount half rebounded of a Mount defender into his arms and with no Mount player in sight, he made for the try line. Although a covering defender cut him off on the 22 metre line, a pass to a supporting player gave Tondu a second try, which was converted to bring the match to an end.

This Saturday, 9 October, the Old Firm are away to Abercynon in the WRU Plate, kick off 2:30pm. On Friday night, the same clubs will play a 2^nd XV game in Abercynon, kick off 7:00pm. All support for both Mount teams welcome.