ASH CRASH OUT DESPITE FIGHTBACK
SWALEC PLATE 3RD ROUND
DEFENSIVE lapses and too many basic errors by the Old Firm were taken full advantage of by Division 1 West Central club Ystalyfera who clinched this Swalec Plate 3rd Round game in the dying minutes after Mount had recovered from 19-0 down a minute into the second half to bring the score back to 24-19.
Although playing up the slope, the Old Firm got off to a promising start, taking play into the Ystalyfera 22 but tight defence saw the ball eventually cleared. After a home forward got away from a lineout and set up a ruck, the ball was moved to outside half Gareth James who put in the first of several superbly placed diagonal kicks to set up a lineout 5m from the Mount line. Although the Old Firm had the throw-in, the ball was disrupted and after a succession of scrums, the home No 8 eventually got over to touch down, James adding the conversion to put Ystalyfera 7-0 up after 11 minutes play. Both teams missed penalties but then a drop-out straight into touch gave the home team a scrum on the Mount 22, which the home No 8 took full advantage of, picking up and running to create an overlap which resulted in the home wing scoring an unconverted try in the corner to take the lead up to 12-0 after 22 minutes. A Mount attack started by second row Jarrod Parfitt, after he peeled away from a maul just outside the Old Firm’s 22, saw fellow second row Richard Griffiths take the ball up to the Ystalyfera 10m line where it was quickly moved to flanker David Richards. He chipped over the home defence to 10m out but was just beaten to the ball by a home defender. Minutes before half time, a lineout take by No 8 Kriss Sanders in the home 22 was driven up to the Ystalyfera line where the Old Firm were awarded a scrum, Sanders picking up and just being forced out on the touchline.
With the Mount kick off to the second half not going 10m, a scrum back in the middle of the field on halfway saw the ball chipped over the Mount backline into space just outside the Old Firm’s 22. A kick on by the home team and a slip by a Mount defender eventually ended in the ball being touched down, the conversion making it 19-0 after 41 minutes. Another well placed kick to the corner was kicked on by the home wing and then a centre but the touchdown was disallowed because of offside. At last Mount got some “go-forward”, scrum half Ross Davies taking a quick penalty and putting the home defence under pressure which led to a penalty.
It was kicked to 5m out and after second row Richard Griffiths took the lineout, a driving maul was finished off by prop James Cowdry who got the touchdown to make it 19-5, full back Liam Jones’ well struck conversion from near the touchline hitting a post. After scrum half Ross Davies took another quick penalty to take play into the Ystalyfera 22, the home side responded with a quick one of their own, their scrum half tearing away and kicking into the Mount 22 where some good covering by flanker David Richards saw the ball cleared. From a ruck just outside the Old Firm’s 22, another cross field kick by home outside half James was kicked on by the home wing for a second time, this time touching down in the corner for Ystalyfera’s fourth try of the day to make it 24-5.
The Old Firm were not finished, and after taking play into the Ystalyfera 22 and pressurising the home line, the ball was moved to outside half Kieron Olden who showed good strength and determination to make a half break, shrug off a tackle and score near the posts, wing Nathan Treharne converting to make it 2412. Better ball retention by Mount took play once again into the home 22, and from a 5m lineout, a drive by the forwards was finished off by scrum half Ross Davies who got the all-important try, Treharne converting with a well judged kick from midway out to make it 24-19 with just five minutes left. Try as they did by retaining the ball, the Old Firm couldn’t get out of their own half and after a turnover, another diagonal kick out wide saw the home wing take full advantage of the space available to catch the ball and run in for Ystalyfera’s fifth try of the game, superbly converted from the touchline by James, which sealed the game and put his side into the last-16 draw.
After recovering from a 6-0 half time deficit, Mountain Ash Youth moved into the quarterfinals of the Welsh Youth Cup with four second half tries to win 26-11 in Whitland.
The Young Firm showed great determination in the first half, playing against the wind and rain, and defending well.
It was a different story in the second half during which a penalty try was awarded after a 20m driving maul was collapsed near the Whitland line.
Then centre Daniel Cartwright kicked through and showed a nice piece of skill to control the ball before scoring the second try.
Hooker Josh James got the touchdown after another driving maul, and scrum half Morgan Cartwright got the fourth try of the day.
Three were converted by Jack Roberts, which put Mount into the next round where they play at home against Cowbridge Youth.
This Saturday, Llantwit Fardre visit Duffryn Pennar Park for a Division 1 East game and Mountain Ash Athletic play Gilfach Goch 2nd XV at Caedrawnant. Both games kick off at 2.30pm. There is no game for Mountain Ash Youth this week.