Fixture

Rhiwbina RFC | 1st Team 38 - 15 Mountain Ash RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
09 September 2018 / Team News

Mount Lose to Championship Contenders

Four tries by seriously quick and elusive right wing Kane Teear-Bourg, and Rhiwbina taking full advantage of Mount errors, gave the hosts a six try to two deserved win at Caedelyn Park. The Old Firm started positively enough, young wing Rhys Davies making a couple of runs which made inroads into the home defence and taking play up to the Rhiwbina 22 where a penalty was converted by outside half Declan Conway for a 3-0 lead. After the Old Firm forwards had stopped a driving lineout on the Mount 22 and cleared the ball, a turnover in midfield saw the Old Firm throw the ball wide to try to exploit an overlap but the ball went loose and right wing Kane Teear-Bourg had the easiest of unopposed run-ins from 40 metres to score under the posts, outside half Nick Saunders converting to put the home team 7-3 up against the run of play. From the restart, Mount attacked again through centre Alex Hughes who took the ball at pace and burst through the home midfield, leaving the defence flat footed, then passing inside to flanker Jordan Coxley, who was tackled by Rhiwbina No.8 Olly Golden 5 metres out, and who also won a turnover to rescue a desperate situation for the home team. Although the Old Firm were behind, they were having the better of the game, with play in and around the home 22, with the front row of Geraint Lock, Jack James and Bleddyn Lock starting to get the nudge on the Rhiwbina eight. A wind affected throw-in at a Mount lineout on the home 22 saw strong running Rhiwbina No.8 Golden make ground after a pick-up from the resulting scrum, and then outside half Saunders cut through the Mount midfield to link with his backline, but some determined defending by the Old Firm stopped the home wing metres from the line. Although the Old Firm won the Rhiwbina throw-in to the lineout, some loose passing turned the ball over on the Mount 22. A crossfield kick by outside half Saunders put Mount left wing Nathan Treharne under pressure 5 metres out from his line, and as the ball bobbled out of his hands, right wing Teear-Bourg, who was close to him, snapped up the ball to touch down and make it 12-3, once again against the run of play. With 5 minutes to half time, a charged down clearance close to the Mount line and then a turnover at the lineout to Rhiwbina saw the ball eventually moved to Teear-Bourg, who completed his hat-trick with a score in the corner, which made it 17-3 to the Squirrels at half time.

Mount had the start they needed in the second half when a long pass in midfield just outside the Old Firm’s 22 was caught by flanker Jarrod Morgan who showed good speed to run 70 metres and score midway out, but frustratingly the conversion attempt went just wide, which made it 17-8 to the home team. Minutes later, an attack by the Old Firm up the blindside saw the ball go loose again and moved quickly by Rhiwbina across the field to that man Teear-Bourg, who was Shane Williams like in stature and had the pace of a top class wing, for him to get away down the touchline at great speed to beat the Mount cover defence and score Rhiwbina’s and his 4th try of the game, in the corner. Saunders converted with a fine kick from near the touchline to make it 24-8 after 45 minutes. A jinking run by Teear-Bourg saw him cut inside and link but some fine defence by young full Morgan James just 5 metres out from the Mount line stopped what looked like a certain try for the Squirrels. Just after the hour, flanker Jordan Burke made a strong run into the Rhiwbina 22 to 15 metres out and linked with scrum half Ross Davies who made a half break and slipped the ball to forward Matthew Dixon, who drove over under the posts, outside half Declan Conway converting to give the Old Firm hope of a comeback at 24-15 down. It wasn’t to be as an inside pass in midfield to outside half Saunders saw him sprint 20 metres to get over and convert to make it 31-15 after 67 minutes. A tackle by replacement Mount full back Nathan Treharne metres out stopped a certain Rhiwbina try, but a strong run by No.8 Golden to 5 metres out and a pass to a player on his shoulder gave Rhiwbina their final try, which was converted, to make it 38-15. The Old Firm were undeterred and finished the game camped on the Rhiwbina line, but some strong defence by the home team kept them out. Although a loss for the Old Firm, they played with plenty of spirit and competed throughout. However, too many loose balls were seized upon by the home team, who took full advantage. The visit to Rhiwbina will be a tough game for most teams in the division and at least it is now out of the way for the Old Firm. The win puts Rhiwbina into 2nd place, while the Old Firm are in 5th. St Joseph’s visit Duffryn Pennar Park this Saturday, 15 September, looking for their first win of the season, while Mount will be looking to get back to winning ways. Kick off is 2:30pm.

Players Fixture player info not published.
Gallery

There doesn't appear to be any tagged photos.

Upload and Tag Photos