Fixture

There were six tries for the Old Firm, three in each half, in this win at Duffryn Pennar Park over a game Rhiwbina XV which kept going for the whole 80 minutes.

Mount always had the upper hand after the first quarter, and after just 8 minutes, wings Morgan James and Rhys Davies combined to put centre Jarrod Cushion away down the touchline 35 metres out. He looked as if he was away and had beaten the defence but the stray hand of a defender dislodged the ball.

The Mount pressure continued in the Rhiwbina 22 and after pressure on the visitors’ line, hooker Kieran Coomer touched down in the corner, with outside half Jayden Pugh’s conversion going just wide.

Rhiwbina got their first points on the board with a 20 metre penalty, and then took the lead with a 30 metre one to go in front 6-5 after 20 minutes. It was short lived as Pugh kicked a straight forward penalty to put the Old Firm 8-6 up.

From a scrum on halfway, wing Rhys Davies came into the backline and created an overlap. Play was taken up to the Rhiwbina 22 where it was moved wide again, second row Jarrad Parfitt nearly breaking through but after being tackled passing expertly over the Rhiwbina defenders to hooker Coomer who finished off a fine attack with his second try in the corner to make it 13-6.

With five minutes to half time, the Old Firm moved the ball to both touchlines, stretching the Rhiwbina defence. Wing Rhys Davies got to within 10 metres of the line and passed inside where second row Jarrad Parfitt did well to pick up the loose ball and drove through a couple of defenders to score Mount’s third try. Pugh converted nicely from midway out to make it 20-6 at half time.

The Mount scrum had been on top all game, and from a 5 metre scrum under the Rhiwbina posts after 5 minutes of the second half, the ball shot out over the try line and flanker Daniel Phillips was the first to it to get his fourth try of the season. Pugh converted to make it 27-6.

Mount continued to attack but some stern defence by the visitors kept them out. Eventually, centre Jarrod Cushion cut through from 10 metres out, Pugh converting to make it 34-6, and then in the 74^th minute, full back Iestyn Robins took the scoring pass to score the Old Firm’s sixth try, Pugh converting with another nice strike to make it 41-6 and finalise the scoring.

Although a bonus point win for the Old Firm, the Mount team know they did not give a complete 80 minute performance. If they can improve several facets of play, their chances this season in the League, Division 1 Cup and Silver Ball will improve.

The next game for the Old Firm is away to Abercwmboi on Saturday 14 October. Kick off time is yet to be confirmed as the World Cup ¼ finals are on the same day, so kick off maybe slightly earlier than 2:30pm. Details will be available shortly.