WRU NATIONAL PLATE FOURTH ROUND

YSTALYFERA .............. 12 DOWLAIS ....................... 5

THIS was a typical old fashioned cup match, with neither side willing to give an inch, and no quarter given or asked, played on a heavy pitch and rain throughout, and played in a great spirit.

Dowlais could not have wished for a better start. From the kick-off the ball was knocked on by the home full back, and from the resulting scrum No 8 Kyle Prosser picked up and burst for the line, was held up and the ball was worked to wing Jake Howard who went over in the corner, for a dream start.

That was as good as got with Dowlais making unusual basic errors and Ystalyfera pouncing on any loose ball.

Their effort paid off when a missed tackle on the wing allowed the home side to draw level.

Ystalyfera now had the incentive to go ahead and keep Dowlais under pressure.

Dowlais defenders failed to clear a high ball, knocking on, and from the resulting scrum the home eight drove over for under the posts to take the lead.

The second half saw Dowlais trying to take the initative but the errors kept coming.

The final 15 minutes saw Dowlais play their best rugby and put the home side under pressure.

It looked as if Dowlais could secure a draw and take the tie into extratime, which they probable deserved for the effort put in.

But Ystalyfera held Dowlais up time after time with the line tantalisingly close, the time in the end proved too much for Dowlais and their large band of travelling supporters would have loved another five minutes and extra-time, but it was not to be and Ystalyfera deservidly go into the quarter-final.

It’s back to league action on Saturday wiith a trip to Heol Y Cyw, the coach leaving at 12.30pm.