WELSH YOUTH CUP QUARTER-FINAL
MOUNTAIN ASH YOUTH ......................... 11 COWBRIDGE YOUTH . 21
IT WAS a case of so near and yet so far for the Young Firm in this hard fought quarter-final game in the Welsh Youth Cup at Caedrawnant.
As the game drew to a close, with Cowbridge leading 14-11, Mount were camped on the visitors’ line but couldn’t get over from a couple of lineouts and scrums, as the visitors dug in, even though suffering two yellow cards. After breaking the stranglehold, a couple of penalties took play into the home 22, from where the visitors drove over in the corner for the winning score, which was well converted from the touchline.
The score gave a misleading impression of the game and didn’t do justice to a fine effort from the Young Firm, who stood up physically to a bigger team throughout, and came back from being 9-6 down at half-time and then 14-6 early in the second half.
Mount got off to a good start, full back and captain Jack Roberts kicking a 38 metre penalty in the opening minutes. Cowbridge had the majority of the ball in the first quarter and tried to take the Young Firm on up front and behind but committed defence by the Mount team kept them out.
Three penalties took Cowbridge into a 9-3 lead, and then Mount’s best attack of the first half was started by scrum half Morgan Cartwright, who broke to the blindside of a maul to set up an attack which led to a couple of 5 metre scrums and also a neat diagonal chip from himself which stretched the Cowbridge defence. A penalty just before halftime was converted by full back Roberts to make it 9-6 at the break.
A crucial early try from close in after just three minutes of the second half extended the visitors’ lead to 14-6, but from then on, a spirited effort by the Young Firm brought them back into the game. From a maul near halfway, a well-placed chip to the blindside by scrum half Cartwright found space, which pacey wing Morgan James took full advantage of to race up the touchline, gather the ball and outpace the defence to run in from 20 metres out for a superb try. Roberts’ conversion was just short but at 14-11 down after 55 minutes, it was game on. Another chip over the top by Cartwright once again found the visitors’ defence wanting, wing James once again quickly through to kick on into the Cowbridge 22 with two other Mount players also in pursuit.
Although the ball was secured by Cowbridge, a charge-down clearance kick looked like a try for the Young Firm, but the referee awarded the visitors a penalty for them to clear.
The pressure continued, Mount kicking a couple of penalties to touch 5 metres out instead of going for the posts. Despite several 5 metre lineouts followed by several scrums, and two yellow cards for the visitors, Cowbridge held out, and took play downfield, where they scored their second try of the match to clinch victory and a place in the semi-finals.
The Old Firm’s Division 1 East Central game in Rumney was cancelled by the hosts because of a waterlogged pitch. Supporters should note that the rearranged date is now Saturday, April 22. The club would also like to congratulate, once again, second row Sean Moore on his 2nd cap for the Wales Under-20 team against Scotland last week.
On Friday, March 17, the eve of the France v Wales Six Nations game in Paris, a Grand Players’ Reunion is taking place at the clubhouse from 7.30pm. It is the first players’ reunion for a number of years and the club invites all past players to come along and renew old acquaintances.
This Saturday, Dowlais visit Duffyn Pennar Park for a Division 1 East Central fixture, the Athletic welcome Penallta 2nd XV to Caedrawnant in the Rhondda and East Glamorgan League, and the Youth face Blues League table toppers Rumney Youth at the Rec. All games kick off at 2.30pm.