Fixture

Beddau gave an impressive display of total rugby at Duffryn Pennar Park and showed they will challenge at the top of the table and be a stern test for all opponents. They played as a team from 1 to 15, everything they did was done at pace, from moving the ball wide to both sides of the field quickly in broken play, always making use of overlaps and supporting the ball carrier in numbers. They recycled the ball quickly out of rucks, they took the ball through numerous phases of play with superb ball retention and they had pace in abundance, attacking from all areas of the field. Any kick long out of defence which stayed infield was just another chance for them to run back at the opposition, retaining the ball, moving it from side to side and putting the defence under another load of pressure. And then to top all these off, they had options at the lineout and an adequate scrum, which may be one area some teams can exploit.

Mount gave their all and competed for 80 minutes, but the ball was monopolised by Beddau as they hardly made a knock-on or lost a lineout or scrum.

Mount were first on the attack, moving the ball wide where full back Jarrod Cushion came into the line and grubber kicked the ball on, picked it up and was tackled just 10 metres out. Beddau went 7-0 up after 8 minutes play when they moved the ball to both sides, recycling quickly for a try in the corner, which was majored with an excellent conversion from the touchline. The Old Firm replied with a well-judged penalty from 38 metres by outside half Callum Hall five minutes later to make it 7-3.

The visitors went further in front in the 19^th minute when Mount tried to run the ball out of defence in their own 22. The ball was turned over by the visitors at the breakdown and quickly transferred to the wing where a second try was scored which made it 12-3 after what looked like “crossing” in midfield.

A period of Mount pressure in the Beddau 22 saw the visitors’ wing yellow carded for an early tackle on a Mount catcher, but 2 minutes later the teams were level in playing numbers when a Mount forward also received a yellow card.

A push-over try by the visitors right on half time and a well-judged conversion from wide out made it 19-3.

Fierce Mount tackling by full back Cushion, centres Josh Lewis and Jamie Long, and second Cameron Davies opened the second half. From a Beddau attack, an interception by Cushion saw the full back race away down the touchline from 65 metres out to beat the cover defence to score Mount’s first try of the game. Hall converted with a beautifully judged kick from the touchline to reduce his side’s arrears to 19-10 after 43 minutes play.

Second row Cameron Davies disrupted a Beddau maul by coming through the middle and getting his hands on the ball, but he was penalised and the visitors given a penalty 35 metres out which they kicked to the corner. There was another yellow card for a Mount forward after a maul collapsed but great close-in defence by the Old Firm kept Beddau out. After the ball was turned over by Mount the clearance kick from behind the try line was charged down, sitting up perfectly for a Beddau player to drop on it and score the bonus point try. The conversion made it 26-10 after 47 minutes.

The restart was won by Mount and a couple of drives in the Beddau 22 appeared to be high tackles but were left to go. Although 5 metres out, the visitors’ defence was firm.

The pace continued to be quick and unrelenting. The visitors got another try after 71 minutes to make it 31-10. Mount were still contributing to the game and a chip over the top into space on halfway by centre Lewis saw him nearly get away. With the game in injury time, a Beddau attack which took the ball through the phases yielded the 6^th try, which was converted to make it 38-10.

The Old Firm will learn a lot from this game. They competed well for 80 minutes but when their opponents had the ball they kept it and did not give it back, testing the defence right across the park. They also had plenty of options at the lineout. They hardly kicked, their support play was excellent and their passing and catching spot-on. That’s what the Mount squad must aim for. They are capable of doing it.

This Saturday, 21 September, the Old Firm travel to Penallta for a Championship East fixture on the 4G pitch, kick off 2:30pm.