DIVISION 1 EAST CENTRAL

DOWLAIS ..................... 21 MOUNTAIN ASH ......... 27

IT was a weekend to remember for Mountain Ash RFC as both the 1st and Youth XVs won away from home in two big games.

The 1st XV continued their good form and beat previously unbeaten Dowlais in the league, and the Youth, showing great spirit, came back from 17-3 down in Cyncoed against Cardiff Metropolitan University to draw 20-20 and go through to the second round of the Welsh Youth Cup through being the away team.

The Old Firm were never behind in the Division 1 East Central game against second=placed Dowlais, and after a tough match in which the hosts fought tooth and nail, eventually took the home team’s unbeaten record.

Dowlais had first use of the slope and wind in the first half but Mount varied their play nicely. A penalty kick into the Dowlais 22 was expertly taken by second row David Richards – who had a fine allround game – which the Mount forwards drove up to the Dowlais line, scrum half Ross Davies touching down from close-in for a try near the posts which wing Holley converted to make it 7-0 after 16 minutes.

Shortly after, the hosts hit back, full back Tom Griffin coming in at a nice angle to cut through and score midway out, outside half Steve James converting to level the score at 7-7 after 22 minutes.

A Dowlais lineout take 10 metres out from the Mount line was turned over by flanker Chris Edmunds who passed quickly to centre Hughes, who cut through the Dowlais midfield with a good handoff but couldn’t get his pass away to wing Holley. A penalty to Mount was kicked into the home 22, and another catch and drive took play to just 10 metres out. The ball was moved to outside half Kieron Olden who made a half break and showed good strength to touch down under the posts, Holley converting to put Mount 14-7 up after 30 minutes.

The Old Firm started the second half slowly and from a couple of errors, Dowlais set up camp in the Mount 22 and after 46 minutes, No 8 Lewis Ayling eventually forcing his way over from a 5m scrum to score near the posts, outside half James converting to level the score at 14-14.

The Old Firm responded immediately, and another drive up to the home 22 saw prop James Cowdry take the ball at pace in trademark fashion to power his way through the first line of Dowlais close-in defence to set up a ruck just 15m out. Quick ball was moved into midfield where outside half Olden gave a nicely timed pass to centre Alex Hughes, who was in space to run in unopposed under the posts to finish off a well-constructed move. Holley converted once more to put Mount 21-14 up after 58 minutes.

Centre Hughes – who had his best game of the season – got away again from near the Mount 22 to cut through the home defence and make at least 40m before linking with fellow centre Steve Brittain, who couldn’t get his pass away as desperate Dowlais defenders closed in. After 65 minutes, a 52m penalty conceded by the home team was hit straight between the posts by wing Holley to take the lead up to 21-14. The home team were far from finished and rallied. With the game close to the touchline, the home touchjudge put his flag up to signal touch, but lowered it, and seconds later, a Dowlais player scored in the corner, outside half James judging the wind superbly to convert from the touchline to make it game on at 24-21 to the Old Firm after 73 minutes.

With play near halfway, the Old Firm were awarded a penalty, wing Holley giving the best response possible to abusive comments from one or two home supporters by striking another beauty of a penalty from 52m to put his team 27-21 up. Try as Dowlais did in the final minutes, there was no way through for the Old Firm to run out winners, which moved them up to third in the Division 1 East Central table – with a game in hand on those just above and below them – and inflict a first defeat of the season on the hosts.

WELSH YOUTH CUP CARDIFF .......................... METROPOLITAN YOUTH ......................... 20 MOUNTAIN ASH YOUTH ......................... 20

AFTER a promising start by the Young Firm, with full back and captain Jack Roberts putting over an early penalty, Cardiff Mets hit back in typical fashion to lead 17-3 half time.

Mount brought on backrow forward Cameron Davies after a few weeks lay off and the game changed. Scrum half Morgan Cartwright took the game to the Mets at every opportunity, his quick tap penalties causing mayhem in the home defence. The Mets tried to fight back but the tide had turned and a loose ball in midfield was snapped up by Mount centre Keiron Hawkins who raced away under the posts, Jack Roberts converting.

With the score now 2010 to the students, the Young Firm were still up against it, but Mount had other ideas. They attacked the Mets at every opportunity with barnstorming performances by forwards Jarrad Morgan, Jordan Burke, Cameron Davies and hooker TJ Stokes. Mount were awarded another penalty which was superbly taken by Jack Roberts to make it 20-13.

With minutes left, the Young Firm came again took the game right up to the Met’s 5m line, a clever offload by Cartwright out of the back of his hand to the ever present TJ Stokes saw the hooker crash over under the posts to make the score 20-18, full back Jack Roberts showing great composure to convert and tie the score at 20-20.

The Mets kicked off, the Mount forwards gathered safely, and after the ball was kicked off the park, the referee called time, which put the Young Firm through to the next round due to being the away team.

It was a magnificent display by the Mount XV against a team of thirdyear university rugby players, who were one of the favourites to lift the cup.