Fixture

The Old Firm returned to League action by scoring 9 tries in this win away to Dinas Powys to make long-serving hooker/second row and captain Jarrad Parfitt’s 200^th 1^st XV game for the club a memorable one.

From the first minute to the last, Mount let the ball do the talking and played with width and pace, with some of their play slick, and some of the tries run in being Barbarian-like. Pleasingly, once again they also showed an appetite in defence, tackling and competing for every ball, winning several turnovers and stopping the never-say-die home side from scoring.

The Old Firm got off to a flyer and opened their account in the first minute. A long clearance kick by Dinas was well caught by full back Jarrod Cushion near the touchline on the Mount 10 metre line. He run the ball back, beat a couple of players, and when tackled near the home 22 the ball was moved wide quickly to flanker Daniel Phillips who showed a turn of pace and run powerfully to break through the defence wide out and score to make it 5-0.

There was some good covering by wing Iestyn Robins from a kick into the Mount 22. Robins was in the action again shortly afterwards when Mount moved the ball quickly from a ruck in midfield and he run in from 20 metres out. The wind was strong and blustery, which made kicking difficult, outside half Callum Hall’s fine conversion attempt from the touchline hitting an upright and rebounding out, leaving Mount 10-0 up after 20 minutes.

Dinas were always under pressure whenever they had the ball. A strong run by centre Alex Hughes took play up to the home 22 where the home side conceded a penalty. Scrum half Ross Davies took it quickly to keep the play going and slipped a pass to hooker Kieran Coomer who scored from 5 metres out. Declan Conway converted to put Mount well in the driving seat at 17-0 up after 28 minutes.

The Old Firm were causing Dinas plenty of problems with quick recycling of the ball which was moved wide into space. From a scrum on halfway, the ball was moved to the narrow side where full back Cushion got away down the touchline and it looked as if he would score, but although he was tackled 5 metres out by a home defender, he managed to pass infield where outside half Hall picked up and run in under the posts. Conway converted to make it 24-0 after 35 minutes.

There was no let-up from Mount. No.8 Matthew Rees came away from a breakdown on the home 10 metre line and run hard up to the Dinas 22. Prop James Cowdry took the ball on, and when he was tackled, the ball was moved into midfield quickly to centre Hughes, who scored midway out. Conway once again judged the wind to perfection and converted to give the Old Firm a 31-0 lead at half time.

Although the home team had the use of the slope in the second half, it made no difference to the approach of the Old Firm. Just as they did at the start of the game, the first try of the half was scored after barely a minute’s play. Pressure in midfield on Dinas saw the spilled ball picked up and moved quickly by centres Hughes and Cole Nash to full back Cushion who burned down the touchline from 40 metres out, leaving the home defence for dead. Conway’s conversion from the touchline was expertly judged into the blustery wind to sail through the posts and make it 38-0.

From the restart, a Dinas attack was turned over on the Mount 22. Immediately it was moved along the backline to Cushion who raced away down the touchline and when the home defence got to him, he passed inside to centre Cole Nash who run in to finish off another fine move. Conway again converted to take the score to 45-0.

Outside half Callum Hall ghosted through the home defence from 15 metres out to touch down under the posts, Conway converting to make it 52-0, and it was left to prop Bleddyn Lock – out on the wing – to receive an overhead pass after the Old Firm stretched the home defence once again in their 22 and score the last try of the day.

A good win for Mount with 9 tries scored. Out of the 5 Division 1 East Central games won, a bonus point has been gained from each, making it 25 points from the 25 on offer, putting the Old Firm in 3^rd place in the table, 2 points behind Rumney who have a game in hand, and 4 points behind leaders St Peter’s. The division is wide open and there is all to play for. Although some of the tries scored were really good long-range efforts, several more chances were missed. A good scrum and lineout, and a quick paced game should be the Mount aim, stretching and testing the opposition defence in the right parts of the field.

Old rivals Porth visit Duffryn Pennar Park this Saturday, 10 December, kick off 2:30pm. Judging on the competitive matches the teams have played over the last few years, the Old Firm will have to be at their best and up to the challenge the Rhondda side will bring.