Ash show fighting spirit

DIVISION 1 EAST CENTRAL

THIS was as good a win for the Old Firm as any this season as they overcame the loss of a player after 20 minutes to show great spirit, determination and belief to win 9-6 in this 93-minute game played on a heavy stamina-sapping surface at a cold, wet and windy Heol Y Cyw.

Mount got off to a good start and within a minute of kick-off were awarded a penalty 35m out which wing Will Holley stroked over to make it 3-0. Although the wet and windy conditions didn’t help their cause, the Old Firm tried to make ground by keeping the ball in hand but it proved difficult on the glue-like pitch. A long kick by outside half Declan Conway was touched down by the home full back but the referee surprisingly ordered a 5m scrum to Mount, but accidentally offside allowed another scrum and Cyw to clear. A lineout take by Mount flanker Richard Griffiths was driven on 20m into the Cyw 22, with two further penalties kicked to the corner, but untidy ball at a 5m lineout was seized on by the home team and cleared upfield. The Old Firm suffered a major blow after 21 minutes when a forward was dismissed for an indiscretion at a ruck although there was no reaction from the home team and no one injured. Holley judged the wind superbly to increase the lead to 6-0 with a superb 45m angled penalty after 27 minutes which the home team responded to with their first sustained period of pressure in the Mount 22, a 25m penalty reducing the lead to 6-3. Second row David Richards was first to the ball from the restart and took play into the Cyw 22 where the home team conceded another penalty which was kicked to the corner. A take by second row Brennan saw scrum half Ross Davies almost break through with a snipe on the blindside, being stopped a metre out, and after the ball was moved to charging prop James Cowdry, it appeared he had touched down but the referee ordered a 5m scrum which the home team disrupted and cleared. Full back Liam Jones reacted quickly to race across field and secure the ball when a diagonal kick out of defence into space spelt danger for the Old Firm. A long passage of play in the Mount 22 was once again manfully defended with the referee signalling half time in the 46th minute.

Heavy rain and the wind picking up against them greeted the Old Firm for the start of the second half. Cyw went straight on the attack and kept on picking up and driving to gain ground. Just a metre out from the Mount line, a blatant knock-on was missed by the referee with the final drive being held up over the line. The Mount seven-man pack held firm at the resulting 5m scrum and pressure across the field saw the ball turned over, but the clearance kick was charged down and fortunately bounced in-goal where it was touched down for a 22m drop-out. Prop Thomas Harper was first onto an overthrow from the home team near halfway and made ground. Further drives took play into the Cyw 22 where a chip by scrum half Davies took play to near the Cyw line where the ball was cleared. At last after 55 minutes, the home team had a forward yellow carded for once again transgressing. With the pitch heavy underfoot, making ground was difficult for both sides and the game became a stalemate with defences on top. With a minute of normal time to play, a lineout on the Cyw 22 was won by second row Brennan but the ball was turned over and kicked up to the Mount 22 where an injury stopped play for a couple of minutes. After play was resumed, the ball was moved into midfield where the Old Firm conceded their first kickable penalty of the half, the 25m kick in front of the posts being converted by Cyw to make it 6-6 after 82 minutes. The chance of victory seemed to have gone for the Old Firm but the Mount XV didn’t see it like that, and after winning the ball from the restart, a sustained attack with good ball retention and accurate passing and catching in difficult conditions, saw play taken into the Cyw 22. Under pressure, the home team once more transgressed and with the match result dependent on the kick, wing Will Holley left nobody in any doubt about the outcome with a sweetly struck 25m penalty straight between the posts from midway out which was greeted with a jubilant roar from supporters and players alike. With the game in the 93rd minute, Mount second row Jarrod Parfitt caught the restart and booted the ball long and high into touch to give Mount a hard earned, but deserved and famous victory, which took them to within two points of first placed Treorchy in the Division 1 East Central table.

This Saturday, the Old Firm travel to third placed Ystrad Rhondda for a Division 1 East Central game, the Athletic play at Senghenydd in the Rhondda and East Glamorgan League, and the Youth also play away, visiting Rumney in the Blues Youth League. All games kick off at 2.30pm.