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Hanly’s
Men Show Their Steel To Trounce Ironmen
Ystrad Rhondda 46 Merthyr 17
It was still fresh in many of the Ystrad players minds the
fact Merthyr pulled a flanker which ultimately cost the
Rhondda men a win at Merthyr’s Y Wern just before
Christmas so it was all the more satisfying to see the home
team run in six tries against a team whose sights were firmly
set on gaining promotion to the Premier Division at the
start of the season.
On a sun drenched Gelligaled park home scrum half Mark Jones
initiated an upbeat expansive game which Merthyr’s
big pack found hard to cope with. Despite missing several
regulars through injury or work commitments Ystrad coaches
Alan Roberts & Mike Griffiths used the opportunity to
test a few youngsters in wings Kane Rees & Daniel John,
both came through with flying colours.
The home team soon got into their stride & had an opportunity
to score as early as the second minute with a well controlled
forward pick up & drive effort where flanker Chris Bevan,
Captain Chris Hanly & second row Nathan Hughes were
heavily involved, the ball spilling forward just short of
the try line.
Minutes later scrum half Jones made good ground from a quick
penalty, offloaded in the tackle to flanker & man of
the match Masin Al Azzawi, further interpassing between
number eight Thomas Hetherington, Masin again & Bevan
saw the latter give a try scoring pass to prop & Merthyr
resident John Watkins who touched down under the posts for
flyhalf Wayne Jervis to add the extras.
The improved lineout work of Hughes, Masin & Facey was
visible for all to see, on one occasion Merthyr opting for
an over the top throw where Hetherington was first to react,
bounced off three tacklers & would have scored but for
some desperate defending.
Flanker Masin was more than a thorn in former Pontypridd
outside half Paul Matthews’ side, he was more like
a nine inch nail as the young lad proved a constant menace
& made Matthews Gelligaled park experience a miserable
one.
Matthews opened the visitor’s account with a penalty
at the third time of asking, Ystrad falling foul of the
referee Lyn Davies’ whistle for not releasing at a
ruck.
Although a Masin steal of opposition lineout ball, Merthyr
regained possession & with laboured passing Geraint
Shalton ceased on the chance to incercept, the full back
showed a good turn of pace to make it to the five yard line
before being hauled down by a covering Merthyr wing, ref
Davies having no hesitation in awarding a penalty try for
Ystrad when the tackler blantantly lay on Shalton to prevent
quick release. Jervis converted to open up a 14-3 lead.
Ystrad’s defence was also a feature of their play,
prop Craig Griffiths getting through a huge amount of work,
it was a try saving tackle on Matthews yards from the Ystrad
line by Shalton which proved to be a crucial play in the
game, Matthews penalised for holding on & Jones racing
through the backtracking Merthyr players from the resulting
penalty before releasing wing Kane Rees, the youth team
playing demonstrating similar qualities to his elder brother
Nathan (Cardiff RFC) by showing a clean pair of heels to
his Merthyr counterpart & adding a try to make the half
time score 19-3.
The home team had no intention of taking their foot off
the gas as displayed by Daniel John, the former Senghenydd
wing pouncing on a loose ball & outstripping the Merthyr
cover for a try under the posts. Jervis again converted.
Shalton put in another commanding performance in the full
back berth, after making a break from inside his twenty-two
he linked up with replacement flanker Hywel Stoddart on
half way, Stoddart attempted a delicate chip over the last
defender, with his brother Morgan (Scarlets, Wales) watching,
unfortunately the ball bounced into touch with the try line
at his mercy.
Jervis & Jones dictated play behind a polished forward
display, the former in fine form with the boot & adding
two penalties to further the score to 32-10 after Merthyr
hit back with a converted try.
A lapse in concentration by an otherwise water tight Ystrad
defence, the midfield marshalled well by centre Dylan Jones,
allowed Merthyr another converted try.
As the game progressed into the last quarter Ystrad reasserted
their dominance as Hetherington charged into midfield bounced
a few defenders off, linked up with centre Jones who found
young Rees in support, a well timed pass by the wing found
Tom Hocking on the inside, the flying centre crossing for
a well deserved try. Jervis converted.
With Merthyr literally out on their feet the home outfit
continued to pile on the pressure, good interpassing by
Hughes, Stoddart & Facey almost seeing Jervis over for
a try, but held just short & Hetherington breaking from
the next ruck & showing his awesome power by keeping
low to the ground & adding Ystrad’s sixth try
& Jervis added the conversion for a memorable afternoon
which left coaches Roberts & Griffiths heaping praise
on their relatively young side.
This Saturday Ystrad are away to Beddau.
The 2nd team had a well deserved victory against The
Old Enemy Treorchy 22-10. scorers were two tries
for promising prop Jamie Connely, a try a piece for Daniel
Smith & Derwyn Nicholas. Plus a Rhys (Sharkey) Jonathon
conversion. A notable inclusion in last week's team was
52 year old committee man Mark
"The Brogue" Griffiths
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