DIVISION 1 EAST CENTRAL

DOWLAIS ..................... 15 PORTH HARLEQUINS 11

THIS certainly was a close encounter between two evenly matched sides on a heavy surface, with the winner in doubt right to the end, in front of a large and appreciable crowd.

Dowlais started off with the intention of dominating Porth, and should have done when try chances early on were squandered.

Dowlais did score an early try when after good work by the home pack second row Kyle Prosser forced his way over in the corner, the conversion failed from wide out.

The Dowlais pack were in control but their pressure failed to add to the score line, and a resolute Porth defence kept them at bay, and some missed penalties did not help.

Porth kept battling and were awarded a penalty, which was put over by Gareth Lewis.

Lloyd Hynes replied with three points just before the interval to put Dowlais just in front 8-3.

The first 15 minutes of the second half saw Porth take the game to the home side, and now Dowlais had to do defend strongly. Dowlais needed to pull something out of the bag to keep Porth at bay, and keep themselves in the game.

The home pack got back into their dominance and after a great deal of Dowlais pressure on the Porth line they were awarded a penalty try converted by Nathan Pritchard.

Now at 15-3 to the home side should have made the game safe, but Porth had other ideas and put Dowlais under pressure and scored from a driving lineout; Robert Downes touching down, the conversion failed.

Another Porth attack saw them gain a penalty to put them a try away from winning.

It was a strong defence from Dowlais which kept Porth out and two yellow cards saw Dowlais defending their line with only 13 players, and this they did with thundering tackles from all the defenders.

This was a tough earned four points on a difficult surface but in the long term a vital one against a very strong Porth side.

Saturday sees another Rhondda side visit Dowlais in a double header cup match in the very strong Ystrad Rhondda KO 2.30pm.