Fixture

The Old Firm went one better than last week by scoring five tries in this home victory over old rivals Treorchy in the 1st Round of the SWALEC Plate. Mount were good value for their win and were never behind throughout the game, always looking to attack and defending well for the most part. The Old Firm went in front after just 7 minutes when outside half Sam Withers kicked a 42 metre penalty. Minutes later, the Mount pack drove a lineout fully 20 metres from their own 10 metre line into the Treorchy half where a chip through by Withers was partially charged down but the outside half quickly gathered and put prop James Cowdry away. With the defence cut open, a well timed pass to full back Jordan Rees saw the young full back run in under the posts for his first try for the Old Firm, Withers converting to increase the lead to 10-0. Treorchy were finding it hard to take play up to the Mount 22, with the Old Firm defence being well organised and committed. From a loose tap at a Treorchy lineout, Mount flanker Lawson Hancock was quickly on to the ball, hacking through to the visitors’ 22 and following up quickly to make a good tackle and keep the pressure on the visitors. With 25 minutes gone, No.8 Kriss Sanders switched play from a scrum on the Treorchy 10 metre line to bring outside half Withers into the game. Seeing an opportunity, he dummied his way through the first line of defence and then showed good pace to get away from the cover and finished off a fine bit of play by beating the last defender to touch down near the posts for an excellent solo try he also converted. Mount were well in control at 17-0 up but after half hour, from a scrum just inside the Mount half, a rare dropped pass was taken full advantage of by Treorchy who took play into the Old Firm’s 22. Although several drives were repelled with committed tackling by the Mount forwards, Treorchy’s hooker eventually drove over, outside half Lloyd converting to put the visitors back in the game at 17-7 down. The Old Firm came up with the perfect response. From a counter attack started by full back Jordan Rees, quick ruck ball was thrown wide to young wing Josh Davies, who finished off a well executed move to leave the defence for dead and sprint in from 30 metres, which, as well as being a fine try in the corner, which increased the Old Firm’s lead to 22-7 at the turnaround, was also a great way for him to return to the Mount ranks after breaking his leg 18 months ago.

Although the Mount defence was fully tested by the visitors at the start of the second half, Treorchy were unable to get close to the Old Firm’s line. When the ball was turned over in the Mount 22, the Old Firm were still looking to attack from deep and a scissors between outside half Withers and centre Shaun Davies almost saw the latter break through. One of Treorchy’s centres was yellow carded after 52 minutes for pulling back a Mount player, and from the penalty award which was kicked to touch just 5 metres out by Withers, prop Geraint Lock was nearly driven over from the lineout. Mount were not to be denied and after a scrum in front of the posts, No. 8 Sanders and replacement scrum half Ross Davies combined for Davies to score near the posts and Withers to convert to take the lead up to 29-7 after 55 minutes. Undeterred, Treorchy hit back minutes later, when a ball was snatched from the back of a Mount scrum 10 metres out for flanker Evans to score a converted try to give Mount something to think about at 29-14 up with 20 minutes left. The Old Firm again responded immediately by putting the ball through the hand and attacking the visitors, prop James Cowdry showing his mobility and fitness by putting in two powerful runs in quick succession. With the visitors stretched, the ball was moved wide to the touchline where hooker Craig Evans got away, his inside pass being knocked down by a desperate defender. The Old Firm had the bit between their teeth and some quick following up and an excellent tackle on a covering Treorchy defender earned Mount a penalty from which a scrum was taken, replacement No.8 Chris Edmunds and scrum half Davies combining for Davies to get his second try of the day, his fourth of the season and Mount’s fifth of the match, once again converted by Withers to take the Old Firm out of sight at 36-14. With both sides still attacking each other, it was Treorchy who had the final say of an entertaining game when they found space out wide from 60 metres out and showed some nice passing skills and pace to score a converted try.

Mountain Ash Athletic 26 Penallta II 35

Although Mountain Ash Athletic were beaten 35-26 at Caedrawnant against a well drilled Penallta 2nd XV, they were well in contention but fitness and better organisation beat Mount in the end after the teams turned round 10-10 at half time. New centre Dayfdd Hellard scored two tries, with outside half Matthew Parfitt converting both and kicking four penalties.

Mountain Ash Youth 51 Hirwaun Youth 0

Mountain Ash Youth ran in nine tries at Hirwaun to win in a Blues Youth League game. Although beaten, the home side kept going which will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

Openside flanker Tom Jenkins, full back Jack Roberts and wing Callum Richards all got their first tries for the Young Firm. Centre and captain Alex Hughes and wing Daniel Cartwright got two each, centre William Holley and outside half Declan Conway got one each to complete the scoring.