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Beddau
29 Ystrad Rhondda 38
Beddau’s Chairman mentioned in his programme address
the impressive strides the Rhondda Valley club have made
this season & it was the visitors current form which
earned them an early 0-8 lead as both teams settled down
to play an attractive brand of rugby.
A penalty to Ystrad in midfield instigated by a ferocious
tackle by fly half Dylan Jones allowed scrum half Mark Jones,
who has been a revelation in the number nine jersey since
his move from Porth at the beginning of the season, to start
a series of quick penalties where good handling skills shown
by second row’s Dai Owen & Chris Hanly, number
eight Thomas Hetherington & centre Dale Griffiths freed
wing Chris Clayton for a try in the corner.
Referee Phil Connett penalised the home team five times
in as many minutes for creeping offside which allowed full
back Geraint Shalton to add a further three points.
Beddau full back Robinson found his kicking range with a
penalty to register his team’s first points &
from the kick off second row Owen took another high ball
& showed much enthusiasm with a powerful charge into
midfield, from the ruck quick hands by the Jones half backs
gave space to the wide men where Clayton found centre Tom
Hocking cutting a fine angle to race through the last line
of defence for a try to make the score 3-13.
Ystrad’s set piece again worked well & a feature
of recent weeks has been the accurate throwing of hooker
Carlos Facey, the visitors had several chances to further
their lead with Beddau a man down due to a yellow card for
a deliberate knock on, but it was Beddau who dug deep &
registered their first try courtesy of centre Mark Addis.
The Ystrad back row were at the centre of all the good work,
number eight Hetherington proving yet again that pound for
pound he is arguably best rugby forward in Welsh rugby with
a number of charges off the scrum base, good support by
Facey & prop Craig Griffiths set up Masin Al Azzawi
for a burst into the opposing twenty-two where always looking
to keep the ball alive the flanker fed Nathan Hughes, Hughes
showing a clean pair of heels for a deserved try which Shalton
converted.
A well rehearsed lineout move enabled hooker Facey to gain
ground & set up a good attacking position, with Hughes,
Hanly & prop Neil Jones all involved & several rucks
later the ball was spread to flying wing Clayton who just
managed to score next to the corner flag to open up an 8-25
lead as half time approached.
Referee’s interpretation of the tackle area can often
be vital, flanker Hughes receiving a yellow card in first
half injury time from Connett when the Ystrad player was
the tackler & could clearly be seen to be on his feet
when attempting to dispossess the Beddau player.
Beddau soon made their man advantage pay with a converted
try for centre Dan Deardon to reduce the arrears to 15-25
at half time.
Dearden added his second try within five minutes & another
converted try game the home team a much needed bonus point
& also showed what an influential player Nathan Hughes
is, Beddau scoring three converted tries while the flanker
was in the bin.
Another hugely influential player for Ystrad has been Captain
Chris Hanly, the second row having to leave the field with
a recurring knee problem.
Beddau had edged into a 29-25 lead before outside half Jones
slotted over a long range penalty to cut the deficit to
a point before replacement outside half Wayne Jervis entered
the game due to Tom Hocking’s back injury & Ystrad
resumed control, Jervis calmly punting the ball from one
twenty-two to the other. A burst up the touchline by wing
Dan John, timely offload to Hughes meant the flanker had
one man to beat & as he stumbled towards the line he
spotted Jervis in support, Jervis putting his team back
in the lead with a try he also converted.
Jervis sealed the match with a drop goal in the last couple
of minutes to register another five pointer & with UWIC
losing 15-60 to Newbridge the result means Ystrad leapfrog
the Cardiff students.
This Saturday Ystrad host Llanharan in their last home game
of the season kick off 2.30
Last Saturday saw Ystrad play old rivals Treorchy in a second
team fixture which ended 10-22 to Ystrad scorers were tries
for Jamie Connelly (2) Daniel Smith & Derwyn Nicholas
with Rhys Jonathon adding a conversion.
Special mention to 52 year old committee man Mark “Dai’s
Taxis or The Brogue” Griffiths who played a full game
on the wing.
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