Fixture

The Old Firm had first use of a gale force wind in Nelson and went ahead after 9 minutes with a well-judged 40 metre penalty from outside half Callum Hall. From the restart by Nelson, a catch and powerful run by second row Daniel Phillips saw him make ground. The ball was passed into midfield where centre Alex Hughes burst through, but the support was not as close as it could have been and his pass was intercepted by a Nelson defender. After 20 minutes, centre Jarrod Cushion took play to 10 metres out. The Mount forwards took the ball on, and from close-in scrum half Ross Davies burrowed over for the Old Firm’s first try of the day, which Hall converted to make it 10-0. Although Nelson did take play into the Mount half on occasions, they had little change out of a tight, committed Mount defence.

With half hour gone, a break up the touchline by hooker and captain Jarrad Parfitt was taken on by No.8 Jordan Burke to halfway. Outside half Hall broke through in midfield, side-stepping one defender and racing away on a diagonal run. He looked over in the corner for an excellent try but passed overhead to centre Alex Hughes as a defender came towards him. With not a player in sight, Hughes’ touchdown was disallowed by the referee for a forward pass. Nelson were under pressure again from another Mount attack and had a man yellow carded. From the penalty award, the Old Firm opted for a scrum, scrum half Davies and centre Alex Hughes handling quickly before centre Jarrod Cushion run in from 15 metres for Mount’s second try. Hall converted to make it 17-0.

Playing with the wind in the second half – which seemed to be getting stronger – Nelson kicked an early penalty to make it 17-3. Further pressure on the Mount line was relieved by a tremendous 50 metre run by second row Daniel Phillips who took play into the home half. The ball was taken on to the Nelson 22 where a penalty award saw Hall do well to convert to take Mount’s lead up to 20-3. It soon increased to 27-3 as an interception 5 metres out from the Mount line by Jarrod Cushion saw the centre outpace all chasing defenders to comfortably touch down under the Nelson posts. Hall converted. Nelson got a converted try after 62 minutes from pressure close to the Mount line to make it 27-10, but the Old Firm responded by taking play up to the Nelson line in gale force conditions where they came close and were held up over the line. With just 2 minutes left to play, a Nelson back broke through to sprint into the corner for a try after what looked like a forward pass. The conversion missed, leaving Mount the winners by 27 points to 15, which gives them a place in the semi-finals.

No.8 Jordan Burke had a busy game, running hard, and is coming into his own now as a hard-working forward. Second row Daniel Phillips – the Mount supporters’ man of the match on Saturday – took several Nelson throw-ins and worked hard all game, putting in a number of runs which made valuable ground in the tough conditions.

Mount’s next game is on Saturday 26 March when they visit Ynysybwl for a Division 1 East Central game. On Saturdays 2 and 9 April, Barry and St Peter’s respectively visit Duffryn Pennar Park, also for League games. These are three vital games for the Old Firm, who are in 3^rd place on 27 points, one point behind but with two games in hand of 2^nd place St Peter’s, and 6 points behind but three games in hand of top of the table Rumney. All games kick off at 2:30pm.