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Penallta
23 Ystrad Rhondda 3
Ystrad
Rhondda have a two week break from league action to recover
from a defeat at the hands of Division Two pace-setters
Penallta.
The visitors welcomed back from injury exciting centre Gareth
Pugh whose defensive qualities are matched by his willingness
to attack & it was Ystrad who took an early lead when
stand off Dylan Jones kicked a penalty.
Previous reports from Penallta was of an exciting team with
good backs who will run the ball from everywhere but it
was Ystrad who looked sharper in the early stages &
had a territorial advantage going into the 2nd quarter.
The home outfit had a very astute defensive line which paid
dividends when an attempted long pass by Dylan Jones was
intercepted by Penallta’s hooker who raced clear to
score a converted try which seemed to give his side and
a vociferous crowd a lift.
With an abundance of quick lineout ball from the back of
the line Penallta looked to smash into the midfield &
had the Ystrad defence, where half backs Chris Rees &
Jones plus the centre paring of Pugh & Nathan Rees were
to the fore, not been so strong they would half leaked more
than two penalties before the half time whistle afforded
Penallta a 13-3 interval lead.
Ystrad’s forwards looked to take the game to their
opponents, evergreen prop Paul Dunning showing a great level
of fitness & Captain Chris Hanly & number eight
Thomas Hetherington always menacing with ball in hand, but
all too often the final pass went astray or the ball was
lost forward in the tackle & it was a stroke of good
fortune which gifted Penallta their next score, their scrum
half’s box kick left to bounce & popped into the
left wing’s hands for him to score in the corner.
Coaches Roberts & Griffiths rung the changes, with promising
youngsters Chris Waygood, Masin al Azzawi & Neil Jones
replacing Carl Facey, Greg Booth & Paul Dunning &
centre James Davies back from injury & making an immediate
impact when he came off the bench.
Penallta stuck to their task & their simple game plan
& in fairness were good value for their win which was
concluded when a good forward drive allowed the backs to
spread it wide for the right wing to cross out wide &
end Ystrad’s unbeaten run of eight games.
Ystrad will be buoyed by the return from injury of centres
Gareth Pugh & James Davies & on a positive performance
by John Watkins playing in an unfamiliar position of tight
head prop.
Saturday sees the visit to Gelligaled Park of Aberdare
for a Konica Minolta Cup Round Two match kick off 2.30
Back
to First XV
Penallta
23 Ystrad Rhondda 3
Ystrad
Rhondda have a two week break from league action to recover
from a defeat at the hands of Division Two pace-setters
Penallta.
The visitors welcomed back from injury exciting centre Gareth
Pugh whose defensive qualities are matched by his willingness
to attack & it was Ystrad who took an early lead when
stand off Dylan Jones kicked a penalty.
Previous reports from Penallta was of an exciting team with
good backs who will run the ball from everywhere but it
was Ystrad who looked sharper in the early stages &
had a territorial advantage going into the 2nd quarter.
The home outfit had a very astute defensive line which paid
dividends when an attempted long pass by Dylan Jones was
intercepted by Penallta’s hooker who raced clear to
score a converted try which seemed to give his side and
a vociferous crowd a lift.
With an abundance of quick lineout ball from the back of
the line Penallta looked to smash into the midfield &
had the Ystrad defence, where half backs Chris Rees &
Jones plus the centre paring of Pugh & Nathan Rees were
to the fore, not been so strong they would half leaked more
than two penalties before the half time whistle afforded
Penallta a 13-3 interval lead.
Ystrad’s forwards looked to take the game to their
opponents, evergreen prop Paul Dunning showing a great level
of fitness & Captain Chris Hanly & number eight
Thomas Hetherington always menacing with ball in hand, but
all too often the final pass went astray or the ball was
lost forward in the tackle & it was a stroke of good
fortune which gifted Penallta their next score, their scrum
half’s box kick left to bounce & popped into the
left wing’s hands for him to score in the corner.
Coaches Roberts & Griffiths rung the changes, with promising
youngsters Chris Waygood, Masin al Azzawi & Neil Jones
replacing Carl Facey, Greg Booth & Paul Dunning &
centre James Davies back from injury & making an immediate
impact when he came off the bench.
Penallta stuck to their task & their simple game plan
& in fairness were good value for their win which was
concluded when a good forward drive allowed the backs to
spread it wide for the right wing to cross out wide &
end Ystrad’s unbeaten run of eight games.
Ystrad will be buoyed by the return from injury of centres
Gareth Pugh & James Davies & on a positive performance
by John Watkins playing in an unfamiliar position of tight
head prop.
Saturday sees the visit to Gelligaled Park of Aberdare
for a Konica Minolta Cup Round Two match kick off 2.30
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