Fixture

Four tries each, but Porth just snatch it at the end

The club photographer hadn’t turned up before Rhiwbina scored their first try, right from the kick off!  Chris Williams and Elliot Jones made ground before the ball was floated out to the left for James Mitchell to gather and cross in the corner to give the Squirrels a very early 5-0 lead. Ben Shariff was injured and replaced by youth product Owen Parry, and he very nearly scored soon after as he was pulled down just short of the line.

Porth were soon on the attack and proceeded to run the ball from everywhere against the strong wind in the first half and always looked dangerous.  Rhiwbina defended well but the visitor’s persistence paid off and they scored with a well-finished break away try which was converted to give them the lead mid-way through the first half.

Porth had the majority of possession but it was Rhiwbina who scored next as Chris Williams again made ground and James Mitchell was there again to finish by touching down in the far left hand corner, and Elliot converted superbly from the touchline.  Then Matt Hall was shown a yellow card for supposedly obstructing the ball, and Porth made the superior numbers count as Rhiwbina lost another player to a somewhat harsh yellow card. Porth scored a try from a rolling maul which was converted to give them a 12-14 lead at half time.  Both teams left the field to warm up and there was a long queue for teas, coffees and hot soup!

Porth started off the second half with a bang with a try in the bottom corner to extend their lead to 12-19.  Rhiwbina then got back to a full compliment and a series of patient attacks and ball retention paid off with skipper Jamie Deabreu crossing for a try near the posts, which was converted to bring the scores level at 19-19.

Porth were then shown two successive yellow cards, the second for a punch which perhaps should have merited a different coloured card! However, despite their reduction in numbers they were able to kick a penalty to regain the lead.  A great run out of his half by Tom Slocombe saw Chris Williams again make ground and swift passing out to the left saw the excellent James Mitchell crossing for his try hat-trick in the corner to give Rhiwbina a slender 24-22 lead.

Pat Howell came on and made some good rumbles, but he was then shown a yellow card for a scrum offence, which caused the scoreboard operator to blow a gasket!  Porth clinched the victory with their fourth try, which was converted to make the final score 24-29.