Fixture

Despite leading 9-0 after the first quarter and giving a dogged, committed performance throughout against a bigger, heavier pack which had the better of the tight play and won the majority of possession, the Old Firm frustratingly bowed out of this season’s SWALEC Plate. Unfortunately, the referee also played his part in the game – some would say too much - making three big calls that had an influence on the game. The first, which appeared to be an act of petulance after nearly 25 minutes, stopped a Mount attack in its tracks, apparently for a comment made, although no warning or yellow card followed. The second, for an innocuous looking tackle, deemed as high, was a harsh decision, and the third, which stopped another Mount attack just metres out from the Wanderers’ line in the dying minutes, was puzzling to say the least. The game started with Mount on the attack from the off, and after taking the ball through numerous phases, outside half Sam Withers kicked a 25 metre penalty to make it 3-0. The lead was increased after 11 minutes, Withers striking the ball nicely, to drop a 30 metre goal from another series of attacks near the Wanderers’ 22. Full back Kieron Olden covered well when the Wanderers found space with a neat kick into the Mount 22, and then Withers made a crucial tackle 10 metres out from the Mount line that disrupted a Wanderers attack. The visitors were starting to get on top up front and dominate possession, with the Mount defence being tested across the park. Eventually, after relieving the pressure, a lineout take on halfway by second row Richard Griffiths saw centre Shaun Davies run straight to give Mount momentum going forward which scrum half Ross Davies took on into the Wanderers 22. Good forward pressure by the Mount eight from a Wanderers lineout take saw the Old Firm awarded a penalty just 15 metres out which Withers converted to take the lead up to 9-0 after 23 minutes. From a counter attack started on the Mount 10 metre line, wing Tom Owens, who had a fine game, cut right through the Wanderers first line of defence and looked to be in with a chance of going further but although he made use of players on the outside, the move was covered. After doing some sterling work defending their line and relieving the pressure, flanker Tom Withers came away from a ruck on the Mount 10 metre line but the referee stopped the attack in its tracks, awarding a penalty to the Wanderers, signalling a comment had been made to him although no warning or yellow card followed. A kick to the corner was followed by a 5 metre lineout which was moved into midfield where a Wanderers centre broke through to score a try under the posts which was converted try to bring the visitors back into the game at 9-7 down after 30 minutes. The Wanderers were still having the better of the possession and probing for gaps, Mount wing Josh Davies making a crucial tackle on his opposite number after he nearly broke away down the touchline from a turnover near half way. Just before the break, from a lineout on half way, second row Jarrod Parfitt put in a bullocking run at speed which bundled one Wanderers player out of the way and then slipped a pass to second row Richard Griffiths, who raced away into the Wanderers’ 22 but was caught. The Mount pack was quickly in support and play was taken up to the visitors’ line where a penalty was given but the kick, from wide out, went wide. Ten minutes into the second half, centre Shaun Davies found space in midfield and linked with flanker Dale Jones who was quickly up in support and nearly broke through on the Wanderers’ 22. What looked like a run of the mill tackle on the Mount 10 metre line was deemed high by the referee, and the penalty awarded was kicked to 10 metres out. A catch and trundle forward by the heavy Wanderers pack led to a converted try which put the visitors 14-9 up after 55 minutes. Mount went straight back on the attack, a fine catch by retreating centre Shaun Davies on half way starting a counter attack which scrum half Ross Davies took on into the 22. The visitors conceded a penalty, Withers having no problem in slotting the 25 metre kick over to reduce Mount’s arrears to 14-12 after 58 minutes. The game continued in much the same vein with the Wanderers having more possession and Mount giving a dogged display in defence and looking to attack off limited ball. Full back Kieron Olden made a good 40 metre run from his own 22 to clear a dangerous situation and then with just five minutes left, the Old Firm put together their best attack of the match, taking the ball through numerous phases, before spreading the ball wide to wing Tom Owen who beat one man but was tackled just short of the line. Somehow the ball was turned over and partially cleared, only for another attack to be launched. The ball was thrown in field to centre Dafydd Hellard who ran strongly and burst through a couple of would be tacklers before a desperate tackle five metres out, under the posts, stopped him. Frustratingly, before he had even hit the floor and placed the ball, the referee puzzlingly awarded a penalty and the Wanderers cleared. It proved to be the Old Firm’s best chance of winning the game, and even though the visitors had a man yellow carded for the last minute or so, it was too late and the Wanderers moved into the next round.