Fixture

“It’s electrifying” is what John Travolta sang in the Grease hit “You’re The One That I Want” but he was joined on Saturday by many Mount supporters who lauded a superb display of second half attacking back play by the Old Firm, who run the ball from all areas of the field using pace, skill and teamwork to score some excellent tries.

Mount’s lineout was inconsistent in the first half which gave Ynysddu more ball than they should have had. From one of these on the Mount 10 metre line, the home side attacked and eventually forced their way over for a try which put them 5-0 after 15 minutes.

Mount’s response was immediate. From a knock-on by Ynysddu, the ball was moved quickly into space to outside half Josh Lewis who gave to centre Steve Brittain who gave a scoring pass to fellow centre Jamie Long for him to run 20 metres to equalise the scores.

The home team retook the lead five minutes later when a powerful run by their No.8 broke through the Mount defence on the narrow side and although he was stopped close to the line, the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try which put Ynysddu 12-5 up.

The Old Firm had a good scoring opportunity minutes later with the home defence stretched and plenty of space available down the touchline but a forward pass stopped it.

Ynysddu were making the most of their time in the Mount half and with a minute to half time, pressure in the Mount 22 was rewarded with a 15 metre penalty which was converted to make it 15-5.

In the last move of the half, some crisp passing by the Mount backline saw the ball moved wide where full back Jarrod Cushion joined the line. He got away down the touchline, drew the last home defender, but whether the pass was too hard, not accurate enough or overrun by the man on the outside, a golden opportunity for a try was missed.

Ynysddu had a dream start to the second half and kicked a 20 metre penalty in the opening two minutes to go 18-5 up.

An attack by the Mount backline from their own half after 47 minutes took play to 10 metres out from the Ynysddu line. A clearance kick by the home side was taken by wing Morgan James near the Mount 10 metre line. He threw a long pass to wing Cole Nash who started another attack which ended with pressure on the Ynysddu line and try for replacement hooker Liam Attwell virtually under the posts. Outside half Lewis converted to reduce the home team’s lead to 18-12 after 47 minutes.

From the restart, No.8 Cameron Davies took the ball and run powerfully, handing on to flanker Steffan Calderbank in space. He made ground into the Ynysddu half. The home side transgressed and from the penalty award, Lewis fired the ball into the home 22. Flanker Ewan Rees took hooker Attwell’s throw-in and the Mount pack set up a driving maul and drove over in the corner from 15 metres out for prop Tommy Hunt to be awarded the touchdown to make it 18-17 to Ynysddu. The home team hit back, extending their lead with a penalty from 20 metres to make it 21-17.

A chip over the Mount backline by the home team saw the ball go over the try line. Outside half Lewis had it covered, but instead of touching it down he went off on a jinking run which nearly took him through into an open field outside the Mount 22.

The whole Mount pack had been hard-working all game, and after 65 minutes a turnover on the Old Firm’s 10 metre line saw the ball moved quickly. Cushion got away to start a long range attack which saw centre Jamie Long, flanker Calderbank, and outside half Lewis amongst others all have a hand in taking play to 5 metres out where No.8 Jarrad Walters scored. Lewis judged the conversion into the wind expertly to put Mount 22-21 up.

The Mount lead was overturned a minute later as a dropped restart saw Ynysddu take play up to the Mount line where a home forward drove over to make it 26-22 after 68 minutes. It proved to be the home team’s last attack of the game as the Old Firm finished strongly.

The Mount forwards were quickly into a ruck to secure the ball from a home fumble. Scrum half Liam Jones fired it out to outside half Lewis who set the Mount backline away. Cushion linked with flying wing Cole Nash who got away and gave a well-timed inside pass to Cushion 20 metres out for the full back to run in for a great try to the delight of the Mount support. Lewis converted to make it 29-26.

The Old Firm were on fire and in no mood to relinquish their lead. Another attack from the Mount half saw wing Morgan James put into space on the Ynysddu 22 where he made ground and was tackled 15 metres out. A yellow card to the home side for an infringement reduced them to 14. From the penalty award close-in, Mount chose to tap and go. It paid off as No.8 Cameron Davies drove over midway out after 76 minutes for Mount’s 6^th try of the game. Although Lewis’ conversion hit the post, there was no way back for the home team, leaving Mount with a place in the 2^nd Round draw which takes place this week.

Well done to the whole Mount team. Some of the back play was quite superb. The Mount pack also deserve great credit for delivering the ball and competing for everything. An improved lineout will make things even better. All in all though it showed what the Old Firm are capable of.