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Ystrad
Rhondda 46 Pill Harriers 20
Players,
officials and the supporters of Ystrad knew how important
a win would be to kick off their campaign in Division Two
and the players delivered an accomplished performance in
front of a healthy crowd at Gelligaled Park.
Following an efficient training campaign in the summer under
the guidance of coaches Alan Roberts and Mike Griffiths
and exciting away wins in their pre season warm up matches
at Pontyclun and Llantwit Fardre it was finally down to
business with the realistic aim of promotion back to Division
One.
Outside half Wayne Jervis opened the scoring with a drop
goal when the home team came out of the blocks quicker with
the forwards applying pressure near the Pill line.
Ystrad furthered their lead minutes later when a speculative
chip over the top by the visiting out half was gathered
by centre Gareth Pugh, the Tonyrefail lad showed good hands
and speed to burst out of his own twenty-two and link up
with full back Blanche Phillips who in turn found young
wing Nathan Rees, the wing powered up the line and managed
to feed fellow wing Gerwyn Davies who gave a try scoring
inside pass to tireless flanker Nathan Hughes.
The visitors realised they needed to keep the ball away
from the far speedier Ystrad backs and their “up the
jumper” tactics paid dividends when a forward drive
allowed them a score out wide at the end of the first quarter.
From the restart wing Davies challenged and won the ball
allowing half backs Chris Rees and Jervis to send awesome
centre “King” James Davies into the Pill midfield
and another drive up the middle by mobile prop Neil Ackers
meant space was created for the wide men and a half break
and timely offload by Jervis to fullback Phillips resulted
in centre Pugh having acres of space and his pace allowed
him to cross unopposed for a try Jervis converted. Though
Ystrad were missing last season’s player of the year
Thomas Hetherington, Captain Chris Hanly moved from 2nd
row to number eight and had a great game constantly making
gains into the opposition defence.
Wingers Davies and Rees were in blistering form and the
latter ran in a further try to open up a 20-5 lead with
half time approaching.
If Ystrad thought this was going to be a second half stroll
in the park Pill had other ideas and showed good resolve
by keeping hold of the ball and grinding away at their opposition
to chalk up a couple more forward orientated tries just
before the interval to make the half time score 20-15.
Ystrad started the second half in a positive fashion and
showed the influence former British Lion’s prop Mike
Griffiths has had on their preseason scrummage sessions
by opting for a scrum when awarded a penalty deep in opposition
territory, with the very promising young forwards which
included the front row of Ackers, Carl Facey and tight head
Chris Waygood captain Hanly was given a solid platform and
after the No 8 picked up from the back of the scrum he set
a good target in midfield following which the ball was shipped
to centre Davies who dazzled the defence by jinking his
way under the posts. Jervis converted.
Ystrad made several changes including introducing new signing
John Watkins from Merthyr, Watkins replacing Ackers on the
loosehead.
With the Ystrad forwards setting another good base from
which their backs would launch an attack it was a well weighted
pass by Jervis which found eager wing Davies coming off
his wing and finding a gap in midfield and his enthusiasm
carried him under the posts for Jervis to convert.
Pill fought to the end and completed their scoring with
a fourth try and in doing so picked up a bonus point before
Ystrad stretched the visiting defence again when fullback
Phillips cut a fine angle and found wing Rees in support
with a long pass, Rees using his pace to sprint clear. Williams
converted.
The home team’s discipline was the backbone to this
promising performance and it was fitting that wing Davies
should be on hand to score the final try and allow Ystrad
to pick up a maximum 5 points before the visit of Llanishen
to “The Galed” on Saturday.
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