Fixture

MATCH REPORT

Saturday 29^th December 2018

MOUNTAIN ASH RFC  22    RHIWBINA RFC  45

Olly’s Man of the Match performance inspires another tremendous team effort by the Squirrels to see the New Year in in style.

And so it came to pass that several ‘Wise Men’ travelled north up the A470 in search of the ‘Saviour’. They didn’t arrive in Bethlehem but in Mountain Ash, they didn’t bring gifts and they didn’t find Jesus either. However, they did come away feeling righteous, happy and uplifted, having seen a tremendous second half performance from the Squirrels against the Old Firm. There’s always a great welcome at Parc DP and it was a good job the electronic scoreboard was working as 67 points were clocked up during the afternoon!

Rhiwbina played with the wind in the first half and got off to a cracking start as James Griffiths put up a high kick.  The Mount defence allowed the ball to bounce and Olly Golden was there first to scoop up the loose ball and race through to score the opening try, which was converted by Lewis Pearce. Mount missed a penalty kick but they made up for it as they then crossed for a converted try to bring the scores level. Mount went ahead with a penalty kick and they were pressurising the Squirrels in the tight, but this didn’t deter the Squirrels’ attacking instincts as some superb inter-passing down the right wing saw Josh Moscardini cross for a try, wonderfully converted by Lewis from the touchline. Lewis then kicked a penalty to make it 10-17, but Mount fought back with a converted try right on the half-time whistle to make the scores level on 17-17 at the break.

The usual cynics feared a Mount attack in the second half with the wind at their backs, but they were proved wrong as the Squirrels clocked up a further five tries to take the game away from the Old Firm.  And whenever the home team resorted to their favoured rolling maul the Rhiwbina defence held firm, with Olly Golden outstanding, ably supported by the ever-dependable Josh Trewartha and Jamie Dabs and his solid pack. Rhiwbina upped the tempo and also mastered the Mount scrum and maul, resulting in a string of penalties coming their way as Mount got more frustrated at the lack of seasonal goodwill, which resulted in a yellow card for their hooker and ten minutes on the naughty step. There was a distinct lack of goodwill from the vociferous home crowd, but the jeers turned to cheers as Lewis missed the resulting penalty. A further series of penalty kicks awarded to the Squirrels resulted in a series of lineout forward drives, and the ref eventually had enough of the spoiling tactics and awarded a penalty try to the Squirrels. Following a missed Mount penalty kick, they tried to the run the ball but knocked it on and Olly again scooped up the loose ball and sprinted away to score his second try and Lewis converted.

If Mount were hoping for a late Christmas present, they were to be disappointed as Dafydd Williams raced through to score under the posts after some slick interpassing down the left hand side, converted by Lewis. Mount were not finished and fought back with a trade-mark forward rumble which led to a try. But it was Rhiwbina who put the seal on the match with a great forward try, finished off by a joyful Cameron Neal, and converted again by Lewis. Rory Harries came on for the final quarter, and one of his trademark bursts almost led to another Squirrel try.  A Mount attack broke down some 20 metres from the Rhiw line when they lost the ball and Rory moved it on to Lewis who fed Loren who set Mac Williams off on a run down the left touch line, but Mount did manage to stop this final Rhiwbina attack and the ref blew for time.

So we end 2018 in third place with a number of games in hand over Rumney in second and leaders Glamorgan Wanderers. We will find out who we play in the next round of the WRU National Plate on Wednesday 2^nd January, when Rumney finally take on undefeated Division One East leaders Brecon – weather and all other issues depending!

So the ‘Wise Men’ set forth back to Rhiwbina with smiles on their faces, whilst the players can reflect on another great job well done.  Happy New Year everyone and we look forward to the visit of Porth Harlequins to Caedelyn next Saturday.