Fixture

This game was a so-called “8 pointer” with both teams in or near the relegation zone in the extremely competitive Championship East division, and it was the home team who made a dream start, scoring two tries in the opening 10 minutes through an attack where the ball was moved wide where an inside pass enabled a St Peter’s player to score. Shortly after, a second try to “the Rocks” came from a 5 metre lineout, with the conversion making it 12-0.

Mount started to get into the game and put several phases together. A nice chip into space and quick following up by full back Jarrod Cushion had the home team under pressure and Mount were unlucky not to be awarded a scrum 5 metres out when the home full back appeared to knock-on when trying to gather the ball.

After Mount took a St Peter’s lineout throw, second row Cameron Davies made ground into the home half where the ball was moved wide. Centre Jamie Long made a half break and handed on to wing Cole Nash who was on hand to take the attack on, and he beat one man and outpaced the last line of defence to finish off a nice move with a try under the posts. Outside half Callum Hall converted to reduce the arrears to 12-7 after 18 minutes play.

A missed kick to touch by Mount gave St Peter’s easy ball in which to start an attack. A penalty for a high tackle – the fifth conceded by Mount during the half, all of which were “soft” penalties not punished by a yellow card – saw St Peter’s kick for touch 5 metres out where pressure close-in eventually lead to a try which was converted to take the home lead up to 19-7 with 25 minutes played.

Mount hit back five minutes later when a catch in the lineout was driven on from fully 20 metres out for a great try which hooker Jarrad Parfitt finished off which Hall majored with a well-struck conversion to make it 19-12.

Cushion and Nash took play up to the St Peter’s 22 where the ball was quickly recycled with the home defence stretched, but a scoring chance was missed when another drive was attempted rather than moving the ball wide where there was an overlap.

With two minutes to half time, full back Cushion was yellow carded for a comment, but it made little difference to the Mount effort as they set siege to the home line with drive after drive from a lineout just 7 metres out which St Peter’s did well to hold up.

Mount were straight on the attack in the second half and levelled the score at 19-19 when flanker Dai Richards took a catch 20 metres out which the Mount pack drove on for prop Tommy Hunt to get over for a try which Hall converted with a lovely kick from wide out.

It was all Mount and a slip pass by second row Davies to hooker Parfitt nearly opened up the St Peter’s defence 15 metres out. Another double of a try from close-in by prop Hunt converted by Hall with a great strike from wide out put the Old Firm in front for the first time in the game, 26-19, after 55 minutes.

The game was open and competitive with both sides going at it. “The Rocks” responded with a try in the corner wide out which was superbly converted from the touchline to make it 26-26.

There was still all to play for with 20 minutes left, and it was the Old Firm who took the initiative. A penalty kicked to 10 metres out saw the Old Firm move it one way and then the other where an overlap emerged for wing Morgan James to show a lovely piece of skill with a dummy 5 metres out and a dive over for Mount’s fifth try of the day to which made it 31-26 to the Old Firm after 63 minutes.

The Mount forwards were quickly into a ruck to compete for the ball which paid dividends with a penalty awarded. Hall struck the ball beautifully through the posts from 40 metres to make it 34-26, and did the same again with another smooth strike from 38 metres to put his side 37-26 up after 69 minutes.

The game was far from over and St Peter’s hit back almost immediately with a multi-phase attack with the Mount defence defending their line well for the most-part but eventually unable to stop a try in the corner. Another excellent conversion from the touchline made it 37-33 after 71 minutes of play.

A dropped restart by the hosts and offside by a home player saw Hall once again slot the ball over from 35 metres to make it 40-33.

The game went down to the very last second as the Mount defence was terrific, repelling drive after drive 15 metres out, and holding a scrum from 10 metres out. Eventually, a dropped pass by the hosts broke the deadlock and the referee ended an entertaining titanic tussle between two teams that didn’t look like they were in the bottom quarter of the table.

Well done to the Mount team for recovering from a slow start and scoring five tries and 40 points away from home with a brand of rugby that asked questions of the opposition. Outside half Callum Hall struck the ball beautifully all afternoon and finished with 15 points.

The five league points gained moved Mount up to 10^th spot on 19 points. Other than Bedwas and Beddau, and maybe Penallta, the rest of this division is even with any team able to defeat the other on the day. There’s a lot of rugby to be played with most teams having 14 games to play.

This Saturday, 21 December, a Cynon Valley derby takes place at Duffryn Pennar Park when Aberdare are the visitors for a Championship East game. Kick off is 2:30pm.