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SWALEC League Division 1 East

MERTHYR v RUMNEY

The Wern, Merthyr
Saturday 6th December 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Merthyr v Rumney 15.01.2005
Past playing record : played 19, Merthyr 9 wins, Rumney 7 wins, 3 draws

SWALEC WRU Cup 2008-2009 - Round 3

RUMNEY v SKEWEN

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 15th November 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rumney : 15.Tom Daly 14.Dave Turner 13.Andrew Carlson 12.Paul Niblett (Capt.) 11.Lincoln Plummer 10.Danny Clark 9.Tom Powell 1.John Leadbeatter 2.Michael Feneck 3.Matt Russell 4.Paul Bull 5.Joe Mills 6.Neil Coles 7.Ryan Fenton 8.Simon Barry Replacements : 16.Craig Fitzpatrick 17.Colin O'Donoghue 18.Ryan Sutton 19.Anthony Wilson 20.Chris Milton

Skewen : 15.Gareth Morris 14.James Bull 13.Gareth Williams 12.Gareth Evans 11.Simon Jeremy 10.Phil Hughes 9.Aled Wells 1.Rhys Jenkins 2.Rhodri Hughes (Capt) 3.Paul Davies 4.Jonathan Grimes 5.David Carter 6.David Absalom 7.Chris O'Connor 8.Scott Jeremy Replacements : 16.Chris Dunnel 17.Anthony Busselli 18.James Reeves 19.Edward Price 20.James Ball

Referee : Neil Howells, Maesteg

Rumney 15 Skewen 0

Scorers for Rumney : D. Clarke try, conversion and penalty, T. Daly try

A high paced start found Rumney centre Andrew Carlson and wing David Turner immediately attacking the opposition defences and scrum half Tom Powell probing and disrupting, while prop John Leadbeatter and flanker Neil Coles drove forward deep into Skewen territory, and wing forward Ryan Fenton attracted the attention of desperate tacklers as he headed for the try line. The bigger and heavier home pack was able to exert intense pressure with Coles and Powell forming a strong partnership at the back of the scrum and No8 Simon Barry picking up and carrying well. Skewen countered the Rumney domination of the scrum by gaining quick ball and using No8 Scott Jeremy in defensive and attacking positions, a role he filled very well throughout the game. Fenton's forward drives were an oustanding feature of the opening period but Rumney showed a tendency to concede penalties by killing the ball in attacking positions and Skewen outside half Phil Hughes gratefully pegged play back downfield. A series of particularly good forward drives led by second rows Paul Bull and Joe Mills, and well supported by prop Matt Russell and hooker Michael Feneck, forced the visitors to give away penalties in an attempt to stop the careful build up of phases, and in the twenty fifth minute Rumney outside half Danny Clark opened the scoring with a successful penalty kick.

Skewen worked their way back into the home side's half where second rows Jonathan Grimes and David Carter secured lineout ball, and were unlucky not to score when a good threequarter movement was only stopped by a very tight defence. Rumney fullback Tom Daley produced a dazzling counterattack from his own half and was just brought down by a strong tackle from opposite number Gareth Morris, but now the home backs were becoming increasingly dangerous, Captain Paul Niblett drawing in defenders and wing Lincoln Plummer appearing in different positions looking for work. Feneck and Mills again drove forward and from a subsequent quick penalty, Powell caused havoc before releasing the backs. Niblett again cut through drawing in a number of tacklers, and with Leadbeatter, Russell and Feneck working as a tight unit the ball was recycled for Coles to attack the tryline and, when the ball was switched wide, for Clark to cross and touchdown. There was no further scoring in the first half and at the interval the scoreboard read Rumney 8 Skewen 0.

A scrappy start to the second half found both sides making unforced errors, but Skewen showed plenty of skill in the tight and worked their way deep into home territory before Russell and Bull secured possession, controlled a forward drive and released Clark whose elusive break took play well away from the danger zone. Flanker Ryan Sutton and prop Craig Fitzpatrick took the field for Rumney at a time when Skewen were enjoying their best period of the game. The wet conditions meant that many passes were dropped but as the half progressed the pressure being exerted by the home forwards was becoming more significant and the visitors' defences were becoming increasingly threatened, outside half Hughes being called upon to make good clearances, often under intense pressure. Sutton was now dominating all the lineouts and hooker Colin O'Donoghue came on and maintained the dominance of the scrum, but Skewen were still ready to run the ball and continued to look dangerous when they spread it wide to wings James Bull and Simon Jeremy. In the seventieth minute a Skewen attack was turned over and Powell fired the ball out to Plummer who tore down the wing and linked with Daly, who soared through the last lines of defence to score an excellent try under the posts. Clark added the points and the final ten minutes saw scrum half Chris Milton come on for the home side, carefully keeping control of play and Clark and Niblett working the corners to make sure that no slip ups would occur. Neil Howell's final whistle was a pleasing sound to Rumney ears, the difficult task of defeating a talented and resolute Skewen side having been accomplished, and a place in Round 4 secured by the 15-0 scoreline.

Steve Ford, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "Our preparation was hampered by the bad weather and we were only able to train once this week, but the warm up was spot on and we knew this was a big game for us, we had to perform today because recently we have definitely been underperforming. It showed today how important the set piece is, especially the scrum, which we dominated and where we put Skewen under a lot of pressure. That gives you an edge in confidence, we had good ball in the first half but didn't penetrate the gain line, we didn't know what to do with all the possession and tended to go across field. It was always the case that we were going to score but we gave away unforced errors and when we tried to offload our last passes they were going to ground. We had the wind in the second half and were confident that we could set targets to get over the gainline and play the corners. Skewen battled hard and had a very good defence which was hard to break down but when the ball went through the hands to Lincoln Plummer and then Tom Daly, we scored a lovely try. We didn't see enough of that today, it was stop and start, especially in the second half and that was a bit frustrating. It was a good result, to win 15 - 0 after four losses, a result which I would certainly have taken if I had been offered it at 2.30 ! A special mention goes to Simon Barry and Ryan Fenton who were outstanding again today and the Man of the Match was Neil Coles who was brilliant, carrying and tackling like a good old fashioned forward."

Tom Powell, scrum half Rumney 1st XV : "We did well and it was good to get a win. It was an ugly win considering the difficult conditions, but the pack did play very well, particularly in the scrums. I feel that I did well, it was slippery and I made mistakes, but overall I'm happy. Ryan Fenton had an excellent game and the pack in general was very good."

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LLANTWIT MAJOR 2nd XV v RUMNEY ATHLETIC

Llantwit Major RFC
Saturday 15th November 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Llantwit Major 2nd XV 20 Rumney Athletic 17

Scorers for Rumney Athletic : L. Collier try, M. Young try, A. Cozzi try, L. Andrews conversion
Man of the match : Matthew Way

SULLY v RUMNEY 3rd XV

Sully RFC
Saturday 15th November 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Sully 0 Rumney 3rd XV 31

PONTYPRIDD YOUTH v RUMNEY YOUTH 8

Pontypridd RFC
Saturday 15th November 2008, k.o. 2.30pm

Pontypridd Youth 11 Rumney Youth 8

Scorers for Rumney Youth : M. Slocombe try, L. Facey penalty

SWALEC League Division 1 East

RUMNEY v LLANHARAN

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 1st November 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rumney v Llanharan 16.02.2008
Past playing record : played 15, Rumney 6 wins, Llanharan 9 wins

Rumney : 15.Tom Daly 14.Tom Driver 13.Andrew Carlson 12.Paul Niblett (Capt.) 11.Lincoln Plummer 10.Danny Clark 9.Chris Milton 1.John Leadbeatter 2.Michael Feneck 3.Joe Russell 4.Michael Kelly 5.Emyr James 6.Ryan Sutton 7.Ryan Fenton 8.Simon Barry
Replacements : 16.Neal Ritchie 17.Tom Powell 18.Paul Bull 19.Terry Gee 20.A.N.Other

Llanharan (Squad) : Backs : Arwel Davies Gary Williams Carl Jenkins James Harris Lee Thorne Lloyd Thomas Elliott Frewen Gethin Worgan Craig Burton
Forwards : Adrian Ford Leighton Davies Nathan Huish Nick Kibble Ed Rees Gareth Casey Lee Davies Bill Carey Justin Jones Aled Llewellyn Craig Beasant Sam Studley John Myatt

Referee : Alan Jenkins, Penlan, Swansea

Rumney 5 Llanharan 43

Scorer for Rumney : Tom Daly try

Scorers for Llanharan : Arwel Davies 2 tries, Gary Williams try, Lloyd Thomas try, Gareth Casey try, Craig Bessant try, Sam Studley try, Gethin Worgan 4 conversions

A scrappy start to the game by both sides found Rumney taking a positive approach with No8 Simon Barry and second rows Michael Kelly and Emry James pounding forward, flanker Ryan Fenton snapping up balls and setting up phases and early attempts to involve the backs seeing winger Tom Driver and centre Andrew Carlson making threatening breaks. After this short, but promising, opening Rumney soon started to concede penalties in attacking positions and Llanharan seized the opportunities to spin the ball wide and gain ground. The set pieces were solid, particularly the scrum where home props John Leadbeatter and Tom Davies-Owen and hooker Michael Feneck controlled the forward exchanges well, but costly penalties alllowed Llanharan to constantly push play back into the Rumney half and in the twenty fourth minute the visitors secured possession five metres out, drove for the line, second row Gareth Casey spinning over to score the opening try. Outside half Gethin Worgan converted and six minutes later, with Llanharan opting for a scrum, following another penalty, scrum half Craig Burton fed his backs and a neat handling movement resulted in winger Gary Williams crossing and extending the Dairymen's lead to 0 - 12. Kelly, Fenton and fellow flanker Ryan Sutton were tireless in trying to spark attacks and backs Chris Milton, Danny Clark, Paul Niblett, Tom Daly and Lincoln Plummer all looked dangerous with the scraps of possession they could get, but Llanharan were confident in their ability to create turnovers and the visitors arrived at half time with their advantage maintained.

Three minutes into the second half another turnover gave the ball to Llanharan and Burton released his backs again, full back Arwel Davies cutting through the stretched defence to score his side's third try. Only four minutes later, the fullback added a second try after he was worked clear in a fine handling movement, Worgan's successful conversions rapidly extending the lead to 0 - 26. Rumney had brought on prop Andrew Feehan for the injured Davies-Owen and now called upon scrum half Tom Powell and second row Paul Bull but another penalty in an attacking position permitted Worgan to put in a massive touchfinder and take play back into the home twenty two, where the subsequent lineout, maul and ruck led to Craig Bessant diving over for a try. In the sixtieth minute a Rumney attack was disrupted by an interception on his own ten metre line by Llanharan centre James Harris, and quick release of the ball sent fellow centre Lloyd Thomas away for another touchdown and a lead of 0 - 36. The home side replied with their most concentrated and methodical attacks of the game, Leadbeatter proving particularly strong and Feehan working hard, while in the backs Daly conjured up a penetrative run, Clark, Niblett and Carlson found increased space, Fenton, Sutton and Kelly continuing to impress in midfield. Powell was enjoying a very good debut, getting fully involved at every chance and when Rumney were awarded a free kick and Feneck powered forward, the scrum half worked the ball to Niblett, who drew in the defence and released Carlson, Plummer and Daly, the flying full back racing in to complete a fine try. More positive play from home forward Terry Gee and another excellent break by Powell kept Rumney going forward but a lost ball in a late scrum was flicked to Llanharan flanker Sam Studley who finished off the Dairymen's victory with a final close range try.

Steve Ford, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "We had a bit of a problem today and had to make changes just before the kick off, but we started quite well and in the first half the scrums and lineouts were o.k. We gave away a couple of silly penalties when we had our tails up and from then on in couldn't get any field positions. We tried to run out of our own twenty two and only pressed once or twice in the Llanharan half. Our plan was to play to the corners but at half time we had to try and regroup. Llanharan were very strong in the contact area and slowed our ball down, but we tried to run slow ball and didn't have a platform. The backs tried forming a flat attacking line to get over the gain line, but it didn't work for us, so we were defending and giving away penalties. There was very low confidence today and it is my job as Coach to get that confidence back. There is a lot of work to do, we have to play to our best every week, this is a very competitive league, we'll have to do some soulsearching to decide which way we go. I have got to prepare the boys as best I can, but when they cross the line at 2.30 they have to take on a certain amount of responsibility. We have been in this situation before and got out of it, and I can assure you that all the coaching staff and the playing squad are trying their best to get out of it, it is a bad spell but we will get out of it. I know some people don't agree with me but these boys work so hard on Tuesday and Thursday nights, we lack a bit of confidence but we will be patient and it will come, the Rumney 1st team will be on the winning trail again. Andrew Carlson had a really good game at 13, his defence was wholehearted and his workrate was phenomenal. The Man of the Match was Simon Barry, playing only his second game for the 1st XV and out of position at No8, he performed very well behind our creaking scrum, he took a couple of turnovers, stopped Llanharan's quick ball and was aggresive in the contact area."

Simon Barry, No8 Rumney 1st XV : "t was a hard game. Llanharan's No10 ran the game and scored a good try. The Rumney pack played pretty well and stuck at it, and Chris Milton and Ryan Sutton had good games. We missed too many tackles and Llanharan didn't, but I felt it went alright at No8 and I was pretty happy with it."

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RUMNEY ATHLETIC v ST PETERS 2nd XV

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 1st Novemember 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rumney Athletic 43 St Peters 2nd XV 14

Scorers for Rumney Athletic : Lee Collier 2 tries, Matthew Way try, Ben Morris try, George Kemble try, Dave Turner try, Lloyd White 3 penalties and 2 conversions

Man of the Match : Jason Page

RUMNEY 3rd XV v Llandaff North 3rd XV

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 1st Novemember 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rumney 3rd XV 60 Llandaff North 3rd XV7

Scorers for Rumney 3rd XV : Lee Abdul 3 tries, John Popple try, Anthony Leach try, Scott Oliver try, Lewis Rapper try, Lee Miller try, Greg Milsom try, Matthew Milsom try, Matk Gains 5 conversions

GLAMORGAN WANDERERS YOUTH V RUMNEY YOUTH

Glamorgan Wanderers RFC
Saturday 1st Novemember 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Glamorgan Wanderers Youth 12 Rumney Youth 0

SWALEC League Division 1 East

YSTRAD RHONDDA v RUMNEY

Gelligaled Park, Ystrad Rhondda
Saturday 25th October, k.o. 2.30 pm

Ystrad Rhondda v Rumney 13.11.2008
Past playing record : played 2, Ystrad Rhondda 2 wins, Rumney 0 wins.

Rumney : 15.Tom Daly 14.Anthony Jones 13.Danny Clark 12.Paul Niblett (Capt) 11.Lincoln Plummer 10.Joe Deacon 9.Chris Milton 1.John Leadbeatter 2.Michael Feneck 3.Matt Russell 4.Emyr James 5.Joe Mills 6.Neil Coles 7.Ryan Fenton 8.Michael Kelly
Replacements : 16.Joe Russell 17.Shaun Spavin 18.Ryan Sutton 19.Anthony Wilson 20.Lewis Andrews

Ystrad Rhondda : 15.Geraint Shalton 14.Dean Jones 13.Gerwyn Davies 12.Liam Phillips 11.Chris Harris 10.Dylan Jones 9.Mark Jones 1.John Watkins 2.Carl Facey 3.Craig Griffiths 4.David Owen 5.Chris Hanley (Capt) 6.Nathan Hughes 7.Thomas Hockin 8.Thomas Hetherington
Replacements : Jamie Wicks Ben Daniels Hywel Stoddard Mazin Al Azzawi

Referee : John Roberts, Llanrwst

Ystrad Rhondda 27 Rumney 23

Scorers for Rumney : Tom Daly try, Joe Mills try, Lincoln Plummer try, Danny Clark conversion and 2 penalties

Scorers for Ystrad Rhondda : Dean Jones try, Chris Harris try, Nathan Hughes try, Thomas Hetherington try, Dylan Jones 2 conversions and penalty

A brilliant start by Rumney stemmed from a tackle by flanker Ryan Fenton which created a turnover and sparked a rapid handling movement leading to full back Tom Daly scoring a superb try after a spectacular seventy metre dash. Outside half Joe Deacon converted well to put the visitors into a 0 - 7 lead after four minutes and Rumney then enjoyed a period when scrum half Chris Milton ruled the roost and forwards Michael Feneck, Joe Mills and Neil Coles rampaged into the Ystrad half. In the twelfth minute second row Emyr James' fine lineout work set up a controlled forward drive and supported by Fenton and Coles, Mills burst over to stretch the lead to twelve points. At this point however, Rumney started to commit penalty offences and in the sixteenth minute Ystrad outside half Dylan Jones kicked a penalty in front of the posts. The home side settled and started using impressive No8 Thomas Hetherington and flankers Nathan Hughes and Tom Hockin to keep possession and work their way upfield, with half backs Marc Jones and Dylan Jones guiding them. More penalties allowed Ystrad to camp close to the Rumney line and from the base of a five metre scrum, Hetherington crashed over to score. Deacon's line kicking was extremely accurate all through the game and gained vast areas of territory and wingers Anthony Jones and Lincoln Plummer increased the pressure with rapid following up, but Ystrad's increased confidence forced more penalties and a quick tap took the visitors by surprise and led to wing Dean Jones touching down under the posts. Dylan Jones converted but Ystrad's lead was short lived as Deacon kicked a penalty to level the scores at 15 - 15. Home centres Gerwyn Davies and Liam Phillips were called upon to stop powerful midfield breaks by opposite numbers Paul Niblett and Danny Clark, Plummer and Daly broke loose again and props John Leadbeatter and Matt Russell and No8 Michael Kelly all put the visitors on the attack as the first period finished.

After the interval Rumney returned to the offensive, Deacon again kicking well, Fenton and Plummer cleaning up superbly, James outstanding in the lineout and defence and Feneck marauding in midfield. The arrival of flanker Ryan Sutton guaranteed additional possession in the lineout and the loose and following a period of dominance Deacon put his side back into the lead with a fifty sixth minute penalty. Within minutes Mills neatly gathered a difficult clearance kick and started a sweeping movement which featured Clark cutting loose and supplying Plummer with the perfect pass for the winger to coast in at the corner, increasing the lead to 15 - 23. Rumney continued to press forward, Daly, Russell and Kelly tackling well to stop counterattacks and Sutton and Leadbeatter ripping possession, while Niblett, Deacon and Plummer blocked threatening threequarter movements. Ystrad patiently controlled play when in possession and gradually benefitted from tight control, the pressure exerted by the pack eventually bringing rewards in the seventieth minute when flanker Nathan Hughes scored a good forwards try under the posts, Dylan Jones' conversion closing the gap to 22 - 23. Still holding on to their narrow lead, Rumney worked their way back upfield but conceded a turnover and when Ystrad again tied up possession and returned to the visitors' half, the home side patiently went through the phases until the defence was stretched and winger Chris Harris flew over in the seventy fourth minute for the match winning try.

Steve Ford, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "We started off today with a pattern to play fifteen man rugby and in the first ten minutes it came together and we scored two quick tries. The set piece was great but then our discipline went and we gave away penalties and field positions, so straight away we were working off the back foot and Ystrad came against us and scored two tries. We gave away too many penalties and missed tackles, so Ystrad got over the gain line far too easily and we didn't stop them coming forward. Their game plan was to keep it really tight, and because we like an open game, we struggled. We got better in the first part of the second half when we stopped giving away penalties and met Ystrad on the gain line, but then we conceded a few silly penalties and gave away turnovers and then they camped on our line and scored. We let the game slip away, ten minutes from the end we were in with a chance of winning, but they scored a try and that was soul destroying because we did play very well at times and the game could have gone either way. Our boys never gave in, there was a lot of commitment and blood and guts but sometimes you just need a little more. We were naive in certain areas, but we have to get ourselves up from the bottom quarter of the table and have to get a win to improve our confidence. Danny Clark showed his versatility playing at thirteen today and the Man of the Match was Neil Coles. "

Danny Clark, centre Rumney 1st XV : "We were playing in patches, we started off well but we seemed to take our foot off the gas and missed out on finishing tries. Over the last few weeks we have been getting better and better and if we stick to what we are doing it will come right and the wins will pour in. Joe Deacon kicked very well out of hand today and Neil Coles' tackling was excellent."

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Try scorers : Tom Daly (4 mins), Joe Mills (12 mins), Thomas Hetherington (26 mins), Dean Jones (35 mins), Lincoln Plummer (60 mins), Nathan Hughes (70 mins), Chris Harris (74 mins)

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PILL HARRIERS 2nd XV v RUMNEY ATHLETIC

Tredegar Park, Newport
Saturday 25th October 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Pill Harriers 2nd XV 5 Rumney Athletic 15

Scorers for Rumney Athletic : Lee Norman try, Lee Collier try, Gary Niblett try
Man of the Match : Simon Barry

RHIWBINA 3rd XV v RUMNEY 3rd XV

Whitchurch Hospital Sports Ground, Whitchurch, Cardiff
Saturday 25th October 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rhiwbina 3rd XV 7 Rumney 3rd XV 51

Scorers for Rumney 3rd XV : George Kemble try, Barry Chambers 2 tries, Tom Powell 2 tries, Anthony Cozzi try, Greg Milsom try, Mike Bartlett try, John Laroche try, Mark Gains 3 conversions
Man of the Match : Anthony Cozzi

RUMNEY YOUTH v PENYGRAIG YOUTH

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 25th October 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rumney Youth 3 Penygraig Youth 30

SWALEC League Division 1 East

BEDDAU v RUMNEY

Mount Pleasant Park, Beddau
Saturday 18th October 2008, k.o. 2.30 pm

Rumney v Beddau 22.03.2008

Past playing record : played 6, Beddau 4 wins, Rumney 2 wins

Rumney : 15.Andrew Carlson 14.Tom Daly 13.Anthony Jones 12.Paul Niblett (Capt) 11.Lincoln Plummer 10.Danny Clark 9.Lewis Andrews 1.John Leadbeatter 2.Shaun Spavin 3.Richard Cornock 4.Michael Kelly 5.Joe Mills 6.Ryan Sutton 7.Anthony Wilson 8.Neil Coles
Replacements : 16.Craig Fitzpatrick 18.Ryan Fenton 19.Simon Barry 20.Chris Milton

Beddau : 15.Dan Wyatt 14.Garan Pearce 13.Scot Edwards 12.Matt Evans 11.Dan Deardon 10.Rhys Truelove 9.Phil Davies 1.Gazza Liddon 2.Matt Hunt 3. S Wilde 4. Dayo Adams 5. G Hart 6. Dooby Jones 7. Darren Waters 8. Glen Slater
Replacements:16. Rhys Cleverly 17.Gareth Waite 18. Chris Bundy 19. Gavin Davey 20. L Goodfield

Beddau 41 Rumney 16

Scorers for Rumney : P.Niblett try, D.Clark try and 3 penalties

Scorers for Beddau : M.Evans try, D.Adams try, G.Slater try, R.Cleverly try, G.Davey try, R.Truelove 5 conversions and 2 penalties

Rumney crashed to their third defeat in a row when Beddau ran in five tries and scored thirty eight points in the second half at Mount Pleasant Park. The home side dominated most of the set pieces from the start, Rumney seeming to be in confusion at the lineout and suffering in the early scrums, though the greasy ball and rainy conditions meant that Beddau were forced into handling errors and could not turn their advantage into points, until the eighth minute when outside half Rhys Truelove opened the scoring with a penalty kick. Two minutes later visiting fly half Danny Clark replied with an equalising penalty and although Beddau continued to maintain play in the opposition half, both sides tended to keep battering away in midfield and use ineffective crash balls, resulting in the half becoming a stalemate. Rumney wingers Lincoln Plummer, Tom Daly and fullback Andrew Carlson all attempted dangerous counterattacks and centres Paul Niblett and Anthony Jones closed down the centre, but clean possession and scoring opportunities were rare and moves were not finished off. Visiting scrum half Lewis Andrews did particularly well in difficult circumstances, supplying the backs with useful ball and in-form Plummer provided try saving tackles, but a poor first half came to an end with no more points added to the board.

Beddau's systematic forward approach soon brought reward after the interval, No8 Glenn Slater becoming increasingly difficult to contain and in the sixtieth minute, after a patient build up, he pounced on a loose ball which had squirted out of a Rumney line out, and found a huge gap through which to score the first try, Truelove's conversion taking his side's lead to 10-3. The visitors reply was rapid, flanker Ryan Sutton eagerly grabbing possession on the floor, No8 Neil Coles, second row Joe Mills and props John Leadbeatter and Richard Cornock driving forward and setting up phases, until the backs were set loose and Niblett burst down the wing for a very good try. Truelove kicked a second penalty in the sixty sixth minute and following more pressure on the visitors' scrum, a difficult Rumney clearance kick was charged down and Beddau's Rhys Cleverly gathered to score under the posts. Truelove again added the conversion points but a better period of sustained pressure by Rumney followed with second row Michael Kelly, flanker Anthony Wilson and hooker Shaun Spavin threatening the opposition defences, and in the seventieth minute Clark put over a penalty to bring the difference in the scores to 20-11. The Rumney coaches brought on scrum half Chris Milton, prop Craig Fitzpatrick and flanker Ryan Sutton to counteract the home side's domination but another charge down led to a rapid counterattack which was finished off by Beddau's Gavin Davey crossing for their third try, and Trueloves's fine touchline conversion extending their lead to 27-11. In the seventy fifth minute another disasterous Rumney lineout allowed home second row Dayo Adams to ground a loose ball for a surprise try and three minutes later an interception led to a further try and conversion. In injury time good ripping work by Sutton and neat passing by Fenton and Cornock put Clark in possession on his own ten metre line and the outside half showed a clean set of heels, sprinting all the way for a try, but at no side the scoreboard showed the disappointing final score of Beddau 41 Rumney 16.

Steve Ford, Coach 1st XV : "As in the last couple of games, our problem is not starting well, we always seem to be chasing games and it takes us thirty minutes to get started. The game today was a prime example, we started poorly even though we had the wind and the slope, but it is all about set pieces and if you can hold your own, then you've got half a chance. We struggled in the set piece and were on the back foot especially in the second half, it was always stop and start, one phase rugby. Just before half time we started to play a bit and got some field position but Beddau came at us and targetted our set piece, disrupting our plan. We struggled for field position and tried to attack from our own twenty two, if you make mistakes there, you get punished and when it did open up a bit in the second half, to be honest, we fell apart. It is no good dragging our heels, we've got to dust ourselves off and get back on course. Shaun Spavin had a very good debut in the 1st XV and the Man of the Match was Lincoln Plummer, Lincoln has been playing very well in the last couple of games and is gaining lots of confidence."

Neil Coles, No8 Rumney 1st XV : "We didn't win any set piece ball so that really put us on the back foot. The scoreline suggests things were a lot worse than they really were, and that was due to the collapse in the second half. We need to win first phase and set piece ball to carry over the gain line and get our game going. I was very disappointed today, it was a poor performance."

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