Fixture

The least said about this game the better as the Old Firm made the worst possible start to their home League programme and also lost their 7 match unbeaten run. Mount were flat as a pancake in the first hour, playing with little enthusiasm and making numerous errors in all facets of play which the visitors took advantage of to score two tries and go into half time with a comfortable lead of 12-3. Prop James Cowdry and second row Jarrod Gore gave the pack a much needed lift when they came on early in the second half, as did flanker Tom Withers when he eventually came on. A well struck early 40 metre penalty into the wind at the start of the second half from outside half Sam Withers gave the Old Firm hope at 12-6 down, but it was short lived as the visitors scrum half, with plenty of time on his hands, dropped a goal from 25 metres out to take his side’s lead up to 15-6. Although the visitors were tiring and conceding penalties regularly in their 22 metre area, the referee showed remarkable leniency to let it go unpunished until the 75th minute, when the match had been decided. With the Old Firm upping the pace in the last quarter and Cowdry leading the way with some powerful runs, several kickable penalties were kicked to the corner, although Withers eventually kicked a 25 metres penalty after 68 minutes to make it 15-9. A mistake from the restart gave the ball back to Rhydyfelin and after taking play up to the Mount line, the visitors scrum half jinked his way over under the posts for his team’s third try after 73 minutes, which was converted. Forward Kriss Sanders was on hand to run in from 15 metres after a half break after 78 minutes, Withers converting to make it 22-16. A couple of minutes later, after another mistake, the referee called time for the visitors to gain their first win of the season.

With only 6 points separating the teams at the end, this was a game the Old Firm were well capable of winning....if they had played the whole game like they did the last 20 minutes.

Ynysybwl II 22 Mountain Ash II 15

Rhondda & East Glamorgan Premier 2 Division

Although the Mount forwards were well on top at Ynysybwl in a 2nd XV League match, they could not convert possession and pressure into points, eventually losing 22-15. Prop Mark Tyler and centre Craig Roberts scored the Mount tries, Roberts also kicking a conversion, and outside Matthew Parfitt getting a penalty. Mount were very unlucky not be awarded a penalty try from a 5 metre scrum. With 20 minutes left, the Mount stranglehold on the ‘bwl scrum was broken when the home team elected to play uncontested scrums.

Mountain Ash Youth 9 Aberdare Youth 10

Although losing 10-9 in the 1st Round of the Welsh Youth Cup at home to Aberdare Youth,

Mountain Ash Youth gave an excellent all round performance and came very close to winning the game. The Mount forwards had much the better of all aspects of play throughout the game, competing for every ball and pushing the bigger Aberdare pack back at the scrum. The game was finely balanced at half time, Aberdare leading 3-0. The second half was an even closer affair, Mount scrum half Liam Jones kicking 3 penalties and shaving the post with a fourth with two minutes to go. Mount still wouldn’t lie down, outside half Declan Conway having a drop goal attempt charged down. It wasn’t to be on the day for the Young Firm but they can look forward to the rest of the season if they keep playing as they are at the moment.