Rumney v Bargoed 10.10.09

SWALEC League Division 1 East

RUMNEY v BARGOED

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 10th October 2009, k.o. 2.30 pm

Bargoed v Rumney 02.05.2009
Past playing record : Played 6 games, Bargoed 6 wins, Rumney 0 wins

Rumney : 15. Dafydd Evans 14. Carwyn Thomas 13. James Thatcher 12. Paul Niblett 11. Lewis Fox 10. Danny Clark 9. Chris Milton 8. Matthew Way 7. Anthony Wilson 6. Ryan Sutton 5. Paul Bull 4. Joe Mills 3. Darren Fenton 2. Michael Feneck (Capt) 1. John Leadbeatter
Replacements: 16.Ryan Fenton 17.Lewis Andrews 18. James Monck 19. Mike Neale 20. A.N. Other

Bargoed : 15. Jeremy Lovell 14. Lewis Prothero 13. Rhys Humphries 12. Darren Humphries 11. Gareth Dare 10. Jamie Howells 9. Mike Roberts 8. Nicky Coughlin 7. Grant Rodgers 6. Adam Cullen 5. Lee Williams 4. Craig Lynch 3. Ross Jones 2. Leigh Meades (Capt) 1. Jason Kedward
Replacements: 16. Steffan Jones 17. Matthew Hutchings 18. A.N. Other 19. A.N. Other 20. A.N. Other

Referee : Phil Harrhy, Gilwern

Rumney 18 Bargoed 49

Scorers for Rumney : Ryan Sutton try, Carwyn Thomas try, Danny Clark conversion and 2 penalties

Scorers for Bargoed : Rhys Humphries 2 tries, Gareth Dare try, Mike Roberts try, Leigh Meades try, Jamie Howells try and 5 conversions and 3 penalties

Rumney crashed to their first defeat of the season, a heavy loss to Bargoed at Riverside Park. An early exchange of penalties started the scoring at 3 - 3 and although the visitors held their own in most of the forward exchanges against the impressive home pack, early thrusts by the Bargoed backs immediately warned of their speed and potential, requiring positive tackling by Rumney Captain Mike Feneck, centre James Thatcher and wing Lewis Fox. In the twelfth minute Bargoed scrum half Mike Roberts broke from the base of a scrum deep in his own half finding acres of space on the blind side and forcing a penalty from his chip ahead. Visiting hooker and Captain Leigh Meades took a tap and go, catching the home defence flatfooted, and went past three tacklers before touching down for the first try, outside half Jamie Howells adding the extra points for a 3 - 10 lead. The Rumney forwards remained in control at the set pieces, the front row of Feneck, props John Leadbeatter and Darren Fenton putting in another outstanding performance, but the Bargoed pack was the best encountered this season particularly at the breakdown, second row Craig Lynch, flanker Grant Rodgers and No8 Nicky Coughlin making sure their possession was used effectively. The Rumney lineout was working with its customary efficiency, flankers Ryan Sutton and Anthony Wilson guaranteeing possession and second rows Joe Mills and Paul Bull driving forward, while Feneck, No8 Matthew Way, Fenton and Leadbeatter exploited the loose. The home backs showed confidence in spinning the ball, scrum half Chris Milton finding gaps, full back Dafydd Evans coming into the line and outside half Danny Clark kicking well for possession and landing a penalty in the twentieth minute. Following a lengthy period of attack and counterattack Howells kicked a penalty for Bargoed and from the restart Lynch gathered well, linked with Howells who made a good break and set up centre Rhys Humphries to completely split the defence and race in untouched under the sticks. Howells converted to stretch the lead to 6 - 20 and although the Rumney forwards again dominated the set pieces and produced powerful controlled drives, the backs were unable to pierce the Bargoed defences, even after very good breaks by centre Paul Niblett and Evans, and despite intense pressure from the home pack, the visitors kept them out and reached half time with a fourteen point lead.

The second half started with another period of pressure from the Rumney forwards with Feneck, Sutton, Way and Wilson gaining ground and more intrusions by Fox, but despite the efforts of the backs, they were unable to turn it into points and good linekicking by the Bargoed half backs relieved the danger. In the fifty first minute, from a scrum just inside the Rumney half, Bargoed spread the ball to the backs and Rhys Humphries raced through three tackles for an outstanding forty five metre solo try. Howells added the conversion and ten minutes later, following another spell of Rumney forward pressure and Bargoed counterattack, the outside half slotted a long range penalty to increase his side's lead to 6 - 28. From the restart the home side gave away a series of penalties and having been driven back into their own half, allowed Bargoed winger Gareth Dare to snap up a loose clearance kick and start a counterattack, linking with Rhys Humphries who created a huge gap for Roberts to streak in and score a fine converted try. In the sixty seventh minute another sweeping Bargoed threequarter movement saw Dare himself cross for a try, Howell's difficult conversion making the score 6 - 42. Ryan Fenton's introduction in the Rumney back row heralded another intense period of attacking forward movements, Fenton showing his outstanding ability in loose play, and further tactical changes brought dynamic second row Mike Neale into the pack and strong prop Dai Evans into the front row, talented back Lewis Andrews also taking over at scrum half. This time the pressure did result in points when, following a series of penalties, Sutton cleverly dashed over from a quick tap. In the seventy eighth minute, Dare gathered another loose Rumney kick in his own half and set off on a long run past despairing tacklers before setting Howells loose to score the try and also put over the conversion. As the clock edged into injury time, home fullback Evans made a superb break from a midfield turnover and gave the perfect pass to wing Carwyn Thomas, who neatly finished off the try, Clark's conversion bringing the final score to a surprising 18 - 49.

Matt Silva, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "We have enjoyed a run of form and played some rugby in our first five games, but today, unfortunately, we stood off a good Bargoed side and paid the price. The Bargoed midfield caused us no end of problems, playing a very good offload game and at times breaking through untouched. The Rumney pack was again outstanding but this is not going to be good enough to compete at the top end of the table, we have to play across the board as fifteen. Once again the front row possibly had the upper hand and the back five rallied and gave one hundred percent. We take a lot of positives out of this game but it also highlighted a few issues that need to be rectified on the training field. We now look forward to going to the Wern to play a Merthyr side who also like to play an expansive game. Today's Man of the Match was Darren Fenton."

Steve Barber, Coach Bargoed 1st XV : "It was one of those days, Rumney tried hard but it was our day from the start. The spine of our team ran from the hooker to the second rows and our No8, we played the spaces and a few tries went begging. Dan and Rhys Humphries were excellent in the centre and Leigh Meades was superb in the turnover."

 

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Try Scorers: Leigh Meades (12 mins), Rhys Humphries (26 and 51 mins), Mike Roberts (64 mins), Gareth Dare (67 mins), Ryan Sutton (73 mins), Jamie Howells (78 mins), Carwyn Thomas (81 mins)