Caerphilly v Rumney 05.09.09

SWALEC League Division 1 East

CAERPHILLY v RUMNEY

Virginia Park, Caerphilly
Saturday 5th September 2009, k.o. 2.30 pm

Caerphilly v Rumney 20.09.2008
Past playing record : played 9, Caerphilly 8 wins, Rumney 1 win

Rumney : 15. Dafydd Evans 14. Lincoln Plummer 13. Gareth Spain 12. Paul Niblett 11. Jay Smith 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. James Monck 17. Sean Spavin 18. Mike Neale 19. Joe Deacon 20. Lewis Andrews

Referee : Elwyn Marfell-Jones, Swansea

Caerphilly 12 Rumney 27

Scorers for Rumney : M.Feneck 2 tries, L.Plummer try, P.Niblett try, D.Clarke penalty and 2 conversions

Scorers for Caerphilly : M. Addis 2 tries, D.Watkins conversion

A stunning first half performance secured Rumney an excellent away win and the ideal start for the new season. Their dynamic pack launched attacks from the first whistle with No8 Michael Kelly in immediate top form, driving through opponents and linking with quickfire scrum half Chris Milton, renewing the potent combination which was to trouble Caerphilly all afternoon. The home side ran the ball when possible but the midfield was sewn up by centres Paul Niblett and Gareth Spain and in the third minute visiting outside half Danny Clarke opened the scoring through an early penalty. From the restart Kelly and Milton were in action again and full back Dafydd Evans and wingers Lincoln Plummer and Jay Smith attacked at speed, demonstrating the pace available to Rumney in the backs. Faultless scrummaging by the oustanding front row of Darren Fenton, John Leadbeatter and Michael Feneck, powerfully supported by second rows Joe Mills and Paul Bull, gave the visiting pack domination of the set pieces allowing Kelly to gain more ball and burst forward again, now working as an effective unit with speedy flankers Matthew Way and Anthony Wilson. Clarke was begining to exert control behind the scrum and Milton combined well with Spain, but Rumney conceded penalties and Caerphilly outside half Matthew Minty responed with good kicking and by starting moves involving dangerous centre Mark Addis. In the eighteenth minute the Rumney pack took a Caerphilly scrum against the head and Kelly rampaged ahead once more, his loose forwards supporting and setting up possession for Captain Feneck, who picked his moment to gather and drive over for the first try. Mills was now creating difficulties with strong bursts, gaining ground and drawing in defenders and when Clark fired off a long penalty kick, Plummer followed up rapidly, snapping up a difficult ball to race in at the corner for a fine opportunist try. Caerphilly counteracted Rumney's forward pressure by making good use of powerful No8 Sam Feehan breaking from the base of the scrum and linking with scrum half Vaughan Thomas, and by concentrating their lineout efforts around second rows Chris Payne and Adam Minty. Rumney fullback Evans continued to impress with counterattacks from deep positions but with Leadbeatter, Fenton and Feneck maintaining control up front and also dominating the loose exchanges, the visiting forwards enjoyed territorial advantage and in the thirtieth minute Bull and Mills set up an excellent position, from which the ball was spun to Niblett who cruised in for a well constructed try. Clarke converted and continued his accurate linekicking, Fenton stopped attacks with decisive tackles and Leadbeatter worked tirelessly in the loose, and with Way and Wilson first to every breakdown, Spain and Niblett threatened in the centre. In the thirty sixth minute Bull gathered a difficult high ball and, with Fenton and Milton, set up a maul from which the scrum half suddenly burst upfield, connecting with Feneck who raced under the sticks for another quality try. Clark's conversion gave Rumney a remarkable 0 - 27 half time lead, but in the minutes remaining to the interval, Caerphilly showed clear signs that their forwards were now working better as a controlled unit and that the backs would be ready to spin the ball whenever possible.

The home side started the second half in attacking mood, centre Lee Mullane and winger Paolo Alanzi only being kept out by a strong defence, but Rumney conceded penalties and in the fifty fifth minute Thomas tapped and passed to fullback Dean Watkins, who fed Addis on the burst for the centre to crash over for the try. Way's excellent performance continued with the flanker defending and attacking in equal measure, and although the visiting forwards were able to make large gains, the home side was developing ways to contain them and with Feehan breaking out and setting up threequarter movements, Caerphilly were frequently able to work their way into the Rumney twenty two. The Caerphilly lineout was now functioning well and in the sixty first minute Adam Minty set up possession for Addis to take off on a devestating run, evading three tacklers and touching down for a spectacular solo try. Watkins conversion brought the score to 12 - 27 and Rumney reorganised with Lewis Andrews coming on at scrum half and James Monck at prop, both players immediately slotting in and taking the attack forward. Evans produced a stunning touchline break and Smith came close to scoring on two occasions, but Rumney's talent in depth was clearly shown when Joey Deacon came on at outside half and Mike Neale in the second row, and the visitor's impetus was maintained with some interesting variations in play. Leadbeatter's hard work at the breakdown, clearing out and winning turnover ball, kept Rumney in control and able to block Caerphilly's attacks until Mr. Marfell-Jones's final whistle announced a hard fought and particularly valuable away win.

Matt Silva, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "It was nice to see the hard work and pre-season preparations come to fruition with the twenty players giving their all in what was, at times, a tricky game to play in. It was pleasing to see the boys going out with the intention of winning as opposed to just running with Caerphilly. Our scrum was solid and at times we had the upper hand in the lineouts and scrums. Michael Kelly was outstanding and so were our three props, Darren Fenton, John Leadbeatter and James Monck, along with the back five out in the loose. The half backs controlled the game well, Paul Niblett was busy in midfield and Anthony Wilson made the most of any chances. We are not going to get carried away with the result, we have to work on game management, we can't allow sides to slow us down and will have to live with teams who play a tighter game. Today's Man of the Match was Matthew Way."

Paul Bull, second row Rumney 1st XV : "In the first half we absolutely demolished Caerphilly, leading 0 - 27 at half time we had already secured the bonus point but in the second half we got scrappy and took our foot off the gas. Getting bonus points at Caerphilly is a great way to start the season. The back row unit was brilliant, the scrum was dominant and the lineout secure, so we put on a lot of pressure."

Dafydd Evans (left) and Michael Feneck (right).

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

Try scorers : Michael Feneck (17 mins), Lincoln Plummer (20 mins), Paul Niblett (31 mins), Michael Feneck (37 mins), Mark Addis (52 mins), Mark Addis (67 mins)