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Merthyr 24 Ystrad Rhondda 13
Ystrad
were grateful to Pontypridd for allowing Mathew Hutchings
to utilise his dual registration for the second consective
week & the full back made his side's intention clear
in the early stages with a neat break out of defence, Hutchings
linked well with wing Dean Jones who cut through to make
good yardage before a rare handling error in centre field
seemed costly for the visitors with a three to one overlap
going to waste.
Merthyr learnt their lesson from the previous abondoned
game where they were lethargic in their approach as on Saturday
the home team had a point to prove & opened the scoring
soon after Ystrad's missed opportunity with a converted
try created when powerful number eight Ben Morgan picked
up from the base of an attacking scrum made a huge gain
before setting up his full back for a run in under the posts.
As the first quarter drew to a close Morgan notched Merthyr's
second try with another ominous carry from a setpiece deep
in Ystrad's twentytwo, outside half Paul Mathews added his
second conversion for a 14 point lead.
It was time for Ystrad to roll their sleeves up & solid
tackles by centre Tom Hocking, number eight Masin Al Azzawi
& Captain Chris Hanly allowed flanker Chris Bevan to
make several steals at the breakdown, from one turnover
ball scrum half Mark Jones spotted a gap up the narrow side
with Hocking in support, an inside ball to Hutchings saw
the full back outpace the cover. Outside half Wayne Jervis
kicked the conversion into a stiff breeze.
As the Ystrad forwards continued to dominate the loose,
Bevan Hanly & Thomas Hetherington to the fore, half
backs Jones & Jervis varied play well & with the
interval approaching a Jervis crossfield kick saw a good
chase by Hocking & lively wing Jamie Wicks, another
turnover gave Jervis the chance to throw a wide pass to
Hutchings who dummied his way over the line only for the
referee to claim the ball was held up.
Although trailing 7-14 at the break Ystrad would have been
the happier side after taking control of the second quarter
& playing half two with the breeze in their backs.
The first score of the second half was always going to be
crucial, the home side exploiting their man advantage after
centre Hocking received a yellow card to score a pushover
try from close range. Mathews added the extras & furthered
Merthyr's lead minutes later with a penalty for Ystrad again
falling foul of Mr Wycherly's whistle for being offside
in midfield.
As in the first half Merthyr had the early pressure then
it was all Ystrad, flanker Bevan opting to crashball into
midfield from fine handling by Jervis & centres Mark
Morris & Tom Hocking, Merthyr caught offside at the
ensuing ruck allowed Jervis to cut back the home lead.
Prop Craig Griffiths battled all afternoon & set up
a good attacking opportunity with a meaningful burst before
having to leave the field with concussion, a further Jervis
penatly on sixty minutes meant Ystrad were very much still
in the hunt.
Referee Simon Wycherly had the final say on the outcome
however when wing Wicks showed good awareness to put Hocking
up the touchline, the centre raced from inside his own half
& was half tackled by Merthyr's covering wing just short
of the line, not being held Hocking rose to his feet &
scrambled over the line, only for Wycherly, who was at least
twenty yards away, to award a scrum as he said he could
not see that Hocking had grounded the ball.
Two dissallowed tries & an abandoned game when they
were leading 15-10 meant Ystrad left Merthyr less than happy.
Prominant for Ystrad was second row Chris Hanly, back row
men Chris Bevan, Masin Al Azzawi, outside half Wayne Jervis,
centre Tom Hocking & full back Mathew Hutchings.
Coaches Roberts & Griffiths will look to keep moral
high this week in the build up to Saturday's massively important
home fixture versus Newport Saracens kick off 14.30
www.ystradrhonddarfc.co.uk
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