Fixture

St Joseph’s RFC 15   Rhiwbina RFC 0

Let’s start with a positive note – Rhiwbina fielded three senior teams on Saturday with the 2nds and 3rds both winning, and the Youth also won.  It wasn’t such good news for the 1^st XV as they lost at St Joes, with not even a bonus pint to sweeten the afternoon.

The match was switched to Heath Park, where the pitch was perfectly playable, but the game ended in the gloom in more ways than one for Rhiwbina.  St Joes scored two tries – one in the opening minutes and one at the death.  There was a penalty kick sandwiched about half way between those scores, and the rest of the game was played roughly in the middle of the pitch with both defences dominating.  St Joes defended exceptionally well as Rhiwbina tried their best to make a break-through from all parts of the pitch. Whilst it didn’t necessarily affect the result of the match, there were some very doubtful refereeing decisions and interpretations.  You won’t see referees openly criticised in these pages as we wouldn’t have a game without them, but you do expect them to interpret the laws appropriately!

Whilst it was another loss for the Squirrels there were some great individual performances from the back row of Golden, Kneath and Williams with Chris Huntley putting in a great effort at the line outs. Dave Gilbert still continues to defy the years at scrum half and Tom Slocombe always looked dangerous, but the points would not come and we now need to pull things together for the rearranged visit of Cambrian Welfare to Caedelyn on Saturday 7^th December. Let’s hope they set off in good time and on a bus that works!