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YSTRADGYNLAIS
3 YSTRAD RHONDDA 65
The
Ystradgynlais website billed Saturday's Swalec Cup encounter
as "the battle of the Ystrad's" & although
the Rhondda side were missing several first team regulars
through injury or work committments they still had more
than enough ammunition to take care of an ill disciplined
Swansea valley team.
Ystrad Rhondda raced into a twenty point lead within ten
minutes thanks to ever dependable full back Geraint Shalton
slotting over early two penalties following good approach
play where hooker Thomas Hetherington & number eight
Hywel Stoddart were heavily involved.
The visitors first try came from a fine break in midfield
by centre Nikki Bees who set up a ruck under the opposition
posts, good recycling aided by fit again flanker Chris Bevan
allowed scrum half Ben Daniels quick ball & quality
handling in wet conditions by Hetherington & centre
Harry Allen set up flanker Tom Hocking for his first try.
Shalton converted.
Off the top lineout ball was the key to the next try, second
row Nathan Hughes rising high above the gynlais jumpers
which gave Daniels more quick ball, a cleverly delayed pass
from outside half Dylan Jones & good angle run by Bees
saw the centre clean through & like all good openside
flankers Hocking was in support to receive a pass &
scorch over for his second of the afternoon. Shalton again
converted before Ystradgynlais gained their only points
of the afternoon courtesy of a long range penalty.
With coaches Roberts & Griffiths benefitting early season
from their squad rotation system, 39 players used thus far,
it was pleasing to see young wing Zak James having his second
start of the campaign & getting in on the action after
the forwards had set up a good platform & sharp passing
by Shalton & Hughes allowed James a score in the corner.
Shalton's well angled conversion opened up a 27-3 lead.
The full back kept up his 100% record for the afternoon
with a penatly to make it 30 points for the away team in
30 minutes.
Despite the weather conditions & the home team continually
looking to slow down possession Ystrad Rhondda have developed
an upbeat expansive game, many thought the referee should
have sent off the home team blindside flanker for his part
in a clear stamping session on second row Hughes, but the
fact he only received a yellow card sent the wrong message
to his colleagues, from the resulting penalty a quick take
by Stoddart in his own half saw the powerful runner make
massive inroads before offloading to Hughes & outside
half Jones, Jones dictating affairs well from behind a dominant
pack, in support was Captain Chris Hanly, the second row
really has hit form since back from a poor knee injury,
in spite of a three man overlap Hanly cut inside the cover
defence for a well desrved try under the posts & his
first in an Ystrad jersey. Shalton converted.
Props John Watkins & Daniel Mathews both had noteable
games, especially in the scrum where they were up against
a beefier Ystradgynlais pack, the latter on dual from Swansea
& was next to get on the scoresheet when he was on hand
to crash over after another tap penalty. Shalton again did
well to add the extras from a tight angle to make the half
time score 44-3.
Hocking's third try came when a resilliant defensive effort
by gynlais wasn't fully broken until midway through the
second half, the speedy flanker popping up in midfield &
making his way through a gap to race under the posts, with
full back Shalton's work completed for the afternoon replacement
Dean Jones stepped up to add the conversion.
A further period of good approach work culminated in replacement
flanker Rory Silver-Evans, making his first team debut,
& the delight was clear for all to see when he played
his part by crossing under the posts. Dean Jones converted.
Prop Paul Dunning replaced Watkins for the final quarter
& with the Rhondda's team scrum taking more & more
command a forward shunt upfield gave Harry Allen, who switched
from centre to outside half, the chance to show his silky
skills & break the defence for him to find Hocking,
now playing in the centre, Hocking took the opportunity
with both hands & raced away from the cover defenders
to record his fourth try & Dean Jones completed the
scoring with a conversion.
Griffiths & Roberts were full of praise for their team's
effort & highlighted the fact Hanly's men rose above
the level of rugby & it seems discipline their opponents
are used to. All bodes well for the Rhondda outfit as they
go into the fourth round hat with the Premier clubs &
all at the club look forward to an imminent return to action
of injury victims Neil Jones & Neil Walker.
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