Fixture

Mountain Ash RFC | 1st Team 27 - 30 Ystrad Rhondda RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
06 May 2022 / Team News

Mount Just Edged Out In Cup Semi

This game was fast and competitive with plenty of open rugby throughout, and was a good advert for the Coors Mid District Cup.

On a lovely, sunny evening, the Old Firm got off to a superb start straight from the kick off in this semi-final game. A kick through by Ystrad into the Mount half saw a counter attack on the narrow side, centre Jamie Long breaking through and passing inside to full back Jarrod Cushion who sprinted in for a try from 40 metres. Outside half Callum Hall converted to make it 7-0 after barely 2 minutes play.

A penalty to Ystrad from the restart saw them kick into the Mount 22, and after several attacks that took play to close to the Mount line, they were awarded a penalty 15 metres out in front of the posts, which was converted to make it 7-3.

A high kick by Ystrad was taking by full back Cushion, who started another attack. After the ball was taken through several phases in the Ystrad half, it was moved into midfield where second row Daniel Phillips made a break and handed onto Cushion, who drew the last Ystrad defender expertly and gave a perfect pass to wing Declan Conway who run in from 15 metres out without a hand laid on him. The try went unconverted, leaving the Old Firm with a 12-3 lead after just 7 minutes played.

The game was competitive with play going back and fore between each half of the field. Offside in midfield saw Ystrad kick to within 15 metres of the Mount line. What looked like some excellent ripping at a maul 5 metres out by hooker and captain Jarrad Parfitt was penalised by the referee and Parfitt yellow carded. Ystrad opted for a scrum, and after two failed attempts at pushing the Old Firm over, they moved the ball to the short side and scored an unconverted try in the corner, which made it 12-8 after 27 minutes.

A kick out of defence by Ystrad and an awkward bounce of the ball put pressure on Mount near their 22, but the Old Firm were quickly in to secure the ball and clear.

Prop James Cowdry broke through from a ruck on the Ystrad 10 metre line where he was tackled in the Ystrad 22. A scoring opportunity beckoned for Mount but a turnover by Ystrad at the ruck stopped it.

With just 3 minutes to half time, the Mount pack had the Ystrad forwards retreating at a scrum on the Ystrad 10 metre line. A penalty award to the Old Firm was kicked into the 22 by outside half Hall, and after the lineout was expertly taken by flanker David Richards – one of several he took through the game – a drive forward by the Mount pack took play up to the Ystrad line where the ball was moved to the narrow side for No.8 Jordan Burke to drive over for Mount’s third try of the half to make it 17-8 to the Old Firm. The game was all-action and good value for money, and the half ended with Mount centre Alex Hughes almost intercepting a high pass on halfway.

The second half saw Ystrad having the advantage of the slope. In the opening minutes of the half, flanker David Richards kicked on a loose ball just outside the Mount 22 and appeared to be impeded but play continued. A failure by Ystrad to secure the ball saw Mount wing Morgan James get it in midfield and he kicked to the touchline. Ystrad won the ball at the breakdown and started a counter attack which went from one side of the field to the other and back, stretching the Mount defence. A break by the Ystrad wing took play to near the Mount line where the ball was won again and a try scored in the corner. A fine conversion made the score 17-15 after 45 minutes.

An excellent catch near halfway by Mount full back Jarrod Cushion from a high kick and a chip into space in the Ystrad 22 with quick following up put pressure on the Rhondda side.

After a lineout take by Ystrad on halfway, the ball was moved wide with the Ystrad full back making an extra man in attack. He took play up to the Mount line, and although tackled, Ystrad drove over from the ruck to go in front 20-17 after 55 minutes.

Mount responded with pressure in the Ystrad 22 and were awarded a penalty wide out near the touchline. A superb kick by Hall, from the wrong side for him, tied the score at 20-20 after an hour’s play.

Ystrad’s restart went straight into touch and from the scrum on halfway, a beautifully directed diagonal kick to the corner by scrum half Morgan Cartwright was nearly got to by full back Cushion, with the ball bouncing into touch 5 metres out.

A loose kick out of the Mount 22 up to halfway was run back by Ystrad. A superb tackle by Cushion on the Mount 22 halted one attacker, but the ball was won by Ystrad and moved wide to take play up to the Mount line. The ball was moved into midfield, and although tackled Ystrad’s centre scored under the posts, the conversion putting them ahead 27-20 after 71 minutes.

The game was still fiercely competitive and fast moving. A penalty to Ystrad in midfield 37 metres out was kicked to increase their lead to 30-20 after 77 minutes.

The Old Firm would not relent, and after a break by Cushion up to the Ystrad 22, and the ball moved one way and then the other, some nice interpassing in midfield involving centre Alex Hughes freed second row Daniel Phillips for him to gallop in from 15 metres to score Mount’s 4th try of the game. Hall converted to make it 30-27 to Ystrad after 80 minutes.

A last desperate attack by Mount was halted on halfway and after a scrum and a couple of rucks, the referee called time to end an all-action, hard-fought, entertaining game played in good spirit.

The defeat was a disappointment for the Old Firm, but there was little to choose between the two sides considering that Ystrad are a division above. Mount sit top of Division 1 East Central and have it all to play for on Saturday 14 May at Duffryn Pennar Park when Treorchy visit for the Old Firm’s last League game of the season. A win will see them finish the League season with a perfect record and champions, a loss could see the Rhondda team win the division. There’s all to play for. Don’t miss it. Be there. Come on the Old Firm!

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