Fixture

Dramatic. That is the only way to describe the end of this titanic struggle between Mount and top of the table Rumney. With a try from the Old Firm reducing Rumney’s lead to 17-12, with outside half Declan Conway’s conversion hitting a post, the referee shouted last play on the restart. Mount had looked well capable of troubling Rumney when they moved the ball wide into space, and they did it from the kick off. Full back Jarrod Cushion came into the line and went outside a Rumney defender where he hit the afterburners to sprint away down the 5 metre line, slipping a lovely pass at pace to wing Cole Nash on the Rumney 22 for him to sprint in and score a try to great jubilation from the Mount team and a big roar from the travelling Mount support to level the scores and give Conway the chance to win the game for Mount. But, to everyone’s surprise and disbelief, the referee signalled his pass was forward and blew for time, leaving the Cardiff team the winners and mightily relieved. It was the toughest of calls especially as the referee could never have been level with Cushion due to his Usain Bolt-like speed.

There was no quarter asked or given throughout the game, with the Mount tackling full-on, frequently driving Rumney back. Rumney had the heavier, bulkier pack, but the Old Firm fought like tigers and stood toe to toe with them throughout. The pack also scrummaged manfully.

After 7 minutes, a scuffle in midfield saw prop James Cowdry and a Rumney forward yellow carded. Moments later, a kick by full back Cushion out of defence was held up by the cross wind and quick following-up by him saw him beat a Rumney player to the ball, side-step the full back and run in from 40 metres for a try under the posts. Outside half Conway converted to make it 7-0 to Mount.

After taking the ball up to the Rumney 22, replacement prop Cory Bunney was yellow carded for badgering the referee. The home team took play up into the Mount 22 where they were met with a fully committed 13 man defence, but they eventually got over in the corner for an unconverted try to make it 7-5 after 23 minutes.

Rumney had a golden opportunity to go further in front with a counter attack from halfway, but the final pass was knocked on 5 metres out, and then just before half time, a 45 metre penalty to the home team hit a post.

The game was in the balance, with the Old Firm giving as good as they got.

A 48 metre penalty attempt by Conway went just wide in the opening minutes of the second half. Pressure from the Old Firm in the Rumney 22 had the home team defending 10 metres out. But, from close quarter play at a ruck, Rumney emerged with the ball and started a break out which involved half a dozen passes and good support play which covered 90 metres and finished with a try wide out which went unconverted to put them in front, 10-7, for the first time in the game after 55 minutes.

A third yellow card for Mount saw replacement threequarter Cole Nash yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on on halfway.

Even though a man down, the Mount commitment in defence and attack was superb. With 65 minutes played, drives from the Mount forwards in the Rumney 22 took play to 10 metres out. Scrum half Ross Davies sniped to the blindside and made ground to 5 metres out, but from the breakdown, Rumney once again came away with the ball to break out of defence and once again went 90 metres to score a try under the posts and convert despite desperate attempts by the Old Firm cover to stop it.

Mount had it all to do at 17-7 down, but they were far from finished. A high kick caught by Cushion and a slip pass to wing Robins put him away to the Rumney 22 where delicate grubber kick inside was picked up by Cushion and passed to hooker Kieran Coomer metres out, but he couldn’t hold it with the try line beckoning.

A long pass by replacement forward Cameron Davies to Cushion in midfield put him away down the touchline and his pass inside 10 metres out again could not be taken. It was good stuff from Mount.

With time running out, a penalty on the Rumney 10 metre line was kicked to 5 metres out by Conway with a well-judged kick into the cross wind, and from a catch and drive, scrum half Ross Davies dotted the ball down among the forwards to make it 17-12, Conway unlucky with his conversion hitting the post.

Then the last dramatic play of the game took place which summed up how close this division is between five clubs and also shows why having three or even four promoted each season keeps interest going until the very end of the season. WRU take note.

This Saturday, 6 May, all roads will lead to St Peter’s where the Old Firm need to win. Can they do it? Of course they can if they play as they did in this game. Kick off is 2:30pm. Come on the Old Firm!