Rumney v UWIC 05.12.2009

SWALEC League Division 1 East

RUMNEY v UWIC

Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 5th December 2009, k.o. 2.30 pm

UWIC v Rumney 09.04.2008
Past playing record : played 13, Rumney 7 wins, UWIC 5 wins, 1 draw

Rumney : 15. Joe Deacon  14. Richard Read  13. Paul Niblett   12. Lee Mullane    11. Lewis Fox  10. Danny Clark  9. Chris Milton  8. Paul Bull   7. Simon Barry   6. Ryan Fenton  5. Joe Mills 4. Mike Neale  3. Darren Fenton 2. Michael Feneck (Capt) 1. John Leadbeatter
Replacements: 16. Ryan Sutton  17. Lewis Andrews  18. James Monck   19. Anthony Wilson  20. Daniel Morris

UWIC : 15. Louis Messer  14. Gareth Walters  13. Matt Arnold   12. Will Rees-Hole    11. Josh Robinson   10. Simon Humberstone    9. Derek Tredway   8. Justin Pakes   7. Craig Howells    6. Luke Allen (Capt)   5. Matt Smith   4. Richard Mountford   3. Dean Howells    2. Jack Yeandle   1. Dan Barlow
Replacements: 16. Jordan Allers   17. Ricky Stout    18. Ed Bowden    19. Josh Leach   20. Iain Smerdon

Referee : David Bodilly, Whitchurch, Cardiff

Rumney 9   UWIC 13

Scorer for Rumney : Danny Clark 3 penalties

Scorers for UWIC :  Luke Allen try, Simon Humberstone conversion and 2 penalties

Appalling weather conditions and a long layoff did not prevent Rumney and UWIC from turning in high quality performances in an exciting game which was full of intense play and was a credit to both sides. Torrential rain throughout the previous week meant that the match was switched to the Cardiff University ground, and although the ball was greasy and difficult to handle, the playing surface was excellent and allowed the two powerful packs to scrummage effectively. Rumney went into the lead in the first minute when outside half Danny Clark was successful with a difficult penalty. UWIC kicked tactically to the corners and soon made use of an accurate lineout and well controlled forward drives, and in the tenth minute visiting outside half Simon Humberstone levelled the scores with a successful penalty. The strong home pack had the better of the early scrummages, the Rumney front row of props John Leadbeatter and Darren Fenton, and hooker Michael Feneck providing complete stability and threatening to drive the students back, while second row Mike Neale and flanker Simon Barry excelled in the loose, carrying the ball way over the gain line. The Rumney centres Paul Niblett and Lee Mullane tied up the midfield, pressurising the opposition and preventing the talented UWIC backline from getting into gear. In the sixteenth minute Clark slotted another penalty and the home forwards continued to impress, second row Joe Mills, No8 Paul Bull and flanker Ryan Sutton all putting in good drives, and the defensive line remaining intact, though it was necessary for Feneck and Bull to keep the students out with try saving tackles. Rumney's fortunes changed, however, in the twenty first minute when a yellow card reduced them to fourteen men and following a long period of pressure and a clean lineout take, the UWIC forwards set up a solid forward drive which was completed by flanker and Captain Luke Allen gathering and touching down. Humberstone's conversion took the students into a 6 - 10 lead and seven minutes later the outside half added three more points, the determined home defence having prevented the students from getting back into try scoring positions.  Another good period for Rumney followed, scrum half Chris Milton taking on the UWIC back row and feeding his backs when the opportunity arose, and home wingers Richard Read and Lewis fox looking particularly dangerous with ball in hand and involving themselves in turnovers and loose play. Home fullback Joe Deacon was very solid under the high ball in the difficult, worstening conditions and put in excellent long range touchfinders to keep Rumney on the attack, and in the thirty second minute Clark pegged the score back to 9 - 13 with a third well taken penalty. As half time approached the home side increased the forward pressure and their backs handled well but there was no further scoring.

Non-stop rain marked the start of the second half but both sides continued to play good rugby, UWIC scrum half Derek Tredway receiving clean lineout ball and centres Matt Arnold and Will Rees-Hole attempting to break through in midfield, while Rumney tended to have the best of the scrummages, Leadbeatter, Feneck and Darren Fenton also dominating the rucks and loose mauls. Play was contained mostly between the twenty two lines and the conditions led to a lot of kicking for position and a large number of well controlled and secure scrums with relatively few errors. Rumney made changes, bringing on hooker Daniel Morris for his First Division debut, Lewis Andrews at scrum half, and Ryan Sutton and Anthony Wilson in the back row. The contest continued to be exciting and skilful, the replacements all showing high skill levels with few mistakes. As the match moved into its final period Sutton claimed a number of opposition lineouts and multiple phases took Rumney close to the UWIC line but the best scoring opportunity came to an end with a turnover and UWIC worked their way back downfield, closing out a very good game at 9 - 13, no points having been added to the scoreboard in the second half.

Matt Silva, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "Basically, the coaches and the boys are disappointed at not getting a victory today, even with seventy five minutes on the clock we had the chance to win the match, but as on many occasions in the game, we turned the ball over. The weather played a big part in how the game was played, but unfortunately the slippery ball and the underfoot conditions got the better of both teams. Considering that we've had a five week break, you could see the boys starting to take shape in the second half. Once again the pack was outstanding in the scrum and lineout, the backs looked as solid as I've seen them this season and were quite brave in the way they attempted to run the ball. We must be mindful that UWIC are well deserved league leaders and we are glad of the bonus point, but once again the boys' attitude is that of winning and not just competing. A special mention goes to Danny Clark who was once again outstanding, Michael Feneck led well as always, Paul Bull stepped up well at No8, Lewis Fox thwarted a number of tries and I was pleased to see Dan Morris playing his first game in Division One. The Man of the Match was Ryan Fenton."

Lee Mullane, centre Rumney 1st XV : "It was a tough game which was there for the taking, but it was dominated by UWIC outside half Simon Humberstone and considering the conditions, we tried to play as much as we could. Our defence was solid, we had worked on it all week, but we got frustrated and made little handling errors and didn't play the conditions as we should have. When UWIC kicked to the corners, we struggled with their rolling mauls from the lineouts. We are disappointed all round, it's the 'Blackwood' feeling, another game we could have easily won. Danny Clark's line and place kicking was really good. UWIC are a strong, solid, well organised team."