Beddau v Rumney 19.09.09

SWALEC League Division 1 East

BEDDAU v RUMNEY

Mount Pleasant Park, Beddau
Saturday 19th September 2009, k.o. 2.30 pm

Beddau v Rumney 18.10.08
Past playing record : played 8, Beddau 5 wins, Rumney 3 wins

Rumney : 15. Dan Millward 14. Lincoln Plummer 13. Gareth Spain 12. Paul Niblett 11. Lewis Fox 10. Daniel Clarke 9. Chris Milton 8. Mike Kelly 7. Matthew Way 6. Anthony Wilson 5. Paul Bull 4. Joe Mills 3. Darren Fenton 2. Mike Feneck (Capt) 1. John Leadbeatter Replacements: 16. Craig Fitzpatrick 17. Sean Spavin 18. Mike Neale 19. Joe Deacon 20. Lewis Andrews

Beddau : 15. Stephen Robinson 14. Dan Wyatt 13. Luke Thomas 12. Huw Williams 11. Matthew Evans 10. Michael Thomas 9. Lloyd Peart 8. Craig Wilkins 7. Geraint Evans 6. Gavin Davey 5. Robert Jones (Capt) 4. Graham Hart 3. Gareth Waite 2. Matthew Hunt 1. Simon Wilde
Replacements: 16. Rhys Cleverly 17. Richard Ingram 18. Ian Wilkins 19. Phil Davies 20. Rhys Truelove

Referee : Sean Brickell, Abertillery

Beddau 7 Rumney 29

Scorers for Rumney : Chris Milton try, Joe Mills 2 tries, penalty try, Danny Clark penalty and 3 conversions

Scorers for Beddau : Gavin Davey try, Stephen Robinson conversion

Rumney gained their third consecutive maximum points win through another disciplined performance at Mount Pleasant Park, a result which put distance between them and UWIC at the top of the Division One East table. Beddau started with a lot of promise, launching fast attacks at the visitors and looking for gaps, but the well organised Rumney defence absorbed the pressure and steadily moved play into the Beddau half where the home pack was penalised for not binding and Rumney outside half Danny Clark landed an excellent long range kick in the third minute. The period was nevertheless a good one for Beddau's lively approach but Rumney fullback Dan Millward gathered well and returned kicks with interest, flanker Andrew Wilson brought off important tackles and Captain Michael Feneck stopped forward drives dead with equally decisive tackles. The visitors domination of the set pieces was evident from the outset and this allowed scrum half Chris Milton and Clark to immediately establish tactical control, Clark's huge, accurate touchfinders to the corners driving the opposition back time and again. Rumney second row Paul Bull cleverly stole possession at the tail of a Beddau lineout and set up the first forward drive, which immediately showed how well drilled and difficult to stop the visiting pack would be throughout the game. Wilson cleared out opponents to create space for the drives and also ruled the lineout, where he benefitted from Feneck's accurate throwing-in. Clark continued to place the ball towards the corners and Rumney wingers Lewis Fox and Lincoln Plummer chased well to keep play there and maintain their side's increasing territorial domination. A massive push in a scrummage sent the home pack backwards, Rumney's front row of props John Leadbeatter and Darren Fenton and hooker Feneck enjoying set piece control, with all three creating big gains in loose play and their speed to the breakdown winning even more possession. Beddau No8 Craig Wilkins worked tirelessly at the base of the retreating scrum, picking up and making ground to start attacks, and outside half Michael Thomas cleared and passed well, his line kicking relieving much heavy pressure, but in the twenty second minute Milton gathered from a quick strike and set off like a scalded cat, completely splitting the defence and superbly distributing the ball to the flying Plummer who had come infield to finish the move under the posts. Rumney No8 Michael Kelly continued in his rich vein of form with devestating breaks from the scrums, ably supported by outstanding flankers Matthew Way and Wilson, while second rows Bull and Joe Mills kept play moving upfield. In the twenty ninth minute Wilson again soared in the lineout and Fenton, Leadbeatter and Feneck gathered round to set up a drive and, supported by the rest of the pack, Mills peeled to the back before powerfully touching down for a well planned try. Clark's fine, long range conversion took the score to 0 - 17, but Beddau continued to show their potential, running the ball in the three quarters and linking with flankers Geraint Davey and Geraint Evans, but Rumney were solid in defence, centres Paul Niblett and Gareth Spain, and Millward tackling positively, Niblett kicking carefully to the corners to put the home side on the backfoot again. The Rumney threequarters also threatened in the counterattack, Fox conjuring up an incisive break which took his side into another scoring position. In the thirty seventh minute Wilson was again the target in the line and the familiar drive set up, but on this occasion Mills capped an outstanding performance by peeling off the side of the maul and crossing for his second try, the sides arriving at halftime with the scoreboard reading 0 - 22 in Rumney's favour.

Beddau came out after the interval in determined and aggressive fashion with Wilkins again the centre of the action and Thomas controlling the moves behind. The home forwards worked well in tight formations enjoying their best period of the game and following the lead of second row Captain Robert Jones. At the same time Rumney conceded a series of penalties and in the fifty ninth minute, following another burst from Wilkins, Thomas neatly drew in defenders before putting Davey through for a good Beddau try, fullback Stephen Robinson adding the conversion from a difficult angle and bringing the score to 7 - 22. Mills' oustanding contribution continued and coaches Matt Silva and Graham Davey decided the time was right to start making changes and introduce players with different approaches, Mike Neale coming on in the Rumney second row, Lewis Andrews at scrum half and Craig Fitzpatrick at prop. Beddau's attacking approach threatened to produce more scores but the visitors' sound defensive line, Clark's soaring clearances and Kelly's ability to steal turnover ball, kept the hosts out and gradually Rumney worked their way back upfield and into the home twenty two. Neale showed his attacking skills in the loose and also won good lineout ball, Fitzpatrick kept the forward drives on course and Andrews controlled well, bossing the forwards and releasing the backs with fast deliveries. Having camped in the Beddau twenty two the Rumney forwards had no intention of reducing the pressure and with Way, Kelly and Wilson all threatening to break from the scrummages, Beddau conceded a rash of penalties and in the seventy fourth minute, as Kelly cleverly controlled the ball over the tryline, Mr Brickell decided that enough was enough and he headed under the sticks to award a penalty try. Clark added the conversion and the remaining minutes were filled with plenty of action as Beddau attacked once more, Rumney defended with important positive tackles from Neale, Leadbeatter, Feneck and Niblett, and counterattacked with bursts by Spain and Andrews. Shaun Spavin joined the Rumney back row and the visitors finished strongly, their well prepared approach justifying their bonus point victory and the 7 - 29 scoreline.

Craig Fitzpatrick (left).

Matt Silva, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "I was a bit apprehensive going into the game knowing what a dogged and tricky side Beddau are and to be honest, they didn't disappoint us, but once again our scrum and lineout were outstanding and we didn't really give Beddau the opportunity to build a platform. Once again Danny Clark and Chris Milton controlled the game, the midfield was solid and the back three were excellent, with Beddau using the slope and the wind, the back three thwarted their efforts. If we can keep sides down to one or two tries, we'll do well this season. Danny Clark was outstanding, Joe Mills got stuck in and Joe was the Man of the Match."

Lincoln Plummer, wing Rumney 1st XV : "The game was good to play in, I enjoyed myself, especially in the first half. I have found each of the three games so far a pleasure. The forwards have been giving us good ball, I don't mind chasing the kicks, I'm loving it and I hope we go on to win the league. Danny Clark kicked well to the corners and I take my hat off to all the forwards, they were outstanding."

Click here to see all the tries from this game and add your comments

Try scorers : Lincoln Plummer (22 mins), Joe Mills (29 mins), Joe Mills (37 mins), Gavin Davey (59 mins), Rumney penalty try (74 mins)