Sports 12 Cwmgwrach 13

Squad - N Townley, S Narbeth, L Evans, G Lewis, S Hearne, M Murphy, O Pengilly(capt), G Punter, M Channell, J Hostettler, M Chapman, M Harris, J Bryant, R Brewer, R Wallace, P Carter, M Blaney, M Jones

Cwmgwrach sarted this game at 100mph and took the Sports Club a little by surprise. A series of driving surges by the Cwmgwrach forwards needed the sternest of defences to repel them. The Sports did this, but only just. Some good clearance kicks by both Nathan Townley and Matthew Murphy regained territory time and time again. It was a scrappy affair and after 20 minutes Cwmgwrach were awarded a penalty when a frustrated Sports forward handled on the ground. Outside half Wayne Phillips made it 0-3 to the visitors.

 

From the restart the Sports made good progress into the Cwmgwrach 22 metre line through driving by Gary Punter, Ryan Wallace and Matthew Murphy and forced a penalty which Townley converted to make it 3-3. This was the Sports best period and they were widening their attacks in their usual fashion and when Cwmgwrach went offside at a ruck there looked no danger as the penalty was awarded. Nathan Townley had different ideas and put it over from the halfway line and at 6-3 the Sports looked to be building after a poor start.

The next move was the most critical of the game. At a Sports put in at a scrum, with all their threequarters in attack mode, including full back, they lost the ball against the head and the Cwmgwrach scrum half, Rhodri Morris, sped away down the blind side not needing his blind side wing who was in support, and scored a fine try. It was equalled by a fine conversion from Wayne Phillips. A 6-10 score line. The Sports stirred up a big drive and assault of the Cwmgwrach line with Owen Pengilly, Matthew Channell and Gary Punter making good yards. When on the stroke of half time hands in the scrum, from Cwmgwrach were spotted by the ref it was an easy kick for Townley to make it 9-10 at the break.

 

The Sports persisted with their wide attack whilst Cwmgwrach were happy to play a tighter game altogether. When Leigh Evans on the Sports wing was high tackled it was Townley who with 4 out of 4 kicks made it 12-10 to the Sports. With 15 minutes to go Mark Harris was harshly 'sin binned' for handling in the loose and this forced a substitution for the Sports to keep the pack strength at a maximum. The high tackles were not really being punished and when the Sports joined in the high tackling in front of their posts, it was Wayne Phillips who took the lead for the visitors 10-12.

 

The remaining 10 minutes saw great endeavour from the Sports forwards but Cwmgwrach held on. Man of the match was the Cwmgwrach scrum half Morris who had a fine game against his opposite number who was the Sports most dangerous player. A hard fought win for Cwmgwrach but not very pretty. The away game should be interesting. Final score 12-13 to Cwmgwrach.