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Ynysybwl
3 Ystrad Rhondda 40
Ystrad
made eight changes from the team which was narrowly defeated
by Newport Saracens the previous week and a comprehensive
defeat of a strong Ynysybwl team which included Pontypridd’s
Dale Mackintosh displays the squad rotation policy is proving
to be healthy for all concerned.
The visitors were on the back foot for much of the first
quarter of this Mid District Cup ¼ final but were
able to bide their time with a solid defensive effort and
massive tackles put in by the likes of outside half Dylan
Jones and hooker Carl Facey which allowed new flanker Thomas
Hocking two turnovers in the loose.
Two Dylan Jones penalties afforded Ystrad a 6-3 lead before
debutant wing Dan Hitchins gave the travelling supporters
a taste of what is to come when the ball is delivered to
the former Pontypridd flyer, he neatly stepped inside two
despairing tacklers and shrugged off another and was strong
enough while being tackled to give a try scoring pass to
energetic number eight Thomas Hetherington.
The home side fell further behind when Hetherington turned
provider, centre Gerwyn Davies showed a good angle of running
combined with his power to set a good target in midfield,
ruck ball was quickly recycled with the help of wing Dean
Jones for Hetherington to stretch his legs when he glided
passed three of the opposition and found Hitchins on hand
to finish the move off and open up a 16-3 half time lead.
Ystrad’s improvement in the scrum from when the side’s
recently met in the league was a facet of play which should
give the coaching staff a sense of satisfaction especially
in view of the fact the “Bwl” pack were noteably
bigger, though the visitors will hope prop Paul Dunning
makes a speedy recovery after leaving the field with an
ankle injury.
The second half started where the first half finished with
Ystrad in charge up front, hooker Facey again making a good
contribution, flanker Masin al Azzawi disrupting the home
team lineout and second row Greg Booth offering good lineout
ball for impressive half backs Ben Daniels and Dylan Jones
to run the show.
Hitchins scored his second try with an air of arrogancy
fielding an Ynysybwl defensive kick on the half way line
and pinning his ears back to speed around the opposition
as if they were cardboard cut-outs. Hitchins was heavily
involved in the visitors fourth try when he again made inroads
into the Bwl defence and linked up with promising centre
Harry Allen, the youngster set up a ruck and with Ystrad
looking to use their superior fitness the ball was quickly
spread by Daniels and Jones to centre Davies who broke through
the first tackler and found replacement prop Neil Jones
on hand to score. Jones converted.
Chris Waygood was introduced in place of prop Dean Perry
and soon after a poor Bwl lineout gave flanker Masin the
chance to hack the ball towards the try line and show a
good turn of pace to beat the covering wing for the touchdown.
Ystrad’s night was completed when full back Chris
Harris gathered a long clearance kick and set off on a mazey
run which saw him speed past several defenders for a well
deserved try which Jones again converted.
This was another very promising display by a young squad
who showed they quickly recovered from the disappointment
of being knocked out of the Konica Minolta cup the week
before and they look forward to the semi final of the District
Cup whoever the opposition.
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