SILVER BALL QUARTER-FINAL

DINAS POWYS ............ 22 TONDU ......................... 23

HOW this game was allowed to kick off only the referee will know but in a London density of fog nobody could have seen the first hour of this impulsive encounter,

Nevertheless, both sides tried their hardest to keep the onlookers embraced on what was to become a masterpiece of Silver Ball rugby.

Dinas Powys certainly took early control of this encounter, scoring a memorable try through Cieron Driscol on the nine-minute mark, a penalty from Ben White increased their lead before Powys were awarded a penalty try by the only man that had Specsavers vision, White, added the simple conversation to put his side into an early 15-0 lead.

The only response from a poor first-half performance from Tondu was a Josh Tatchell penalty.

The balance of the game changed early in the second period though when Tondu hooker Jake Lewis crashed over for a try from a maul, another 5m lineout and subsequent maul saw Nathan Brown smash his way over for the Waterwheelers to make it 15-13.

Powys then bounced back with another try which White converted.

You could have been forgiven for thinking the game was over at this point, but Tondu had other ideas, it was clear that Powys were struggling with fitness at this point, and the Aberkenfig-based side certainly made them pay, first a penalty from Tatchell and then a forward onslaught saw captain Hywel Davies crawl over for the game’s match-winning try, well almost, there was

the little matter of the conversation, which Josh Tatchell slotted to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.

Tondu then saw out the final three minutes to record a memorable win and a semi-final clash with Treorchy on April 12.

Congratulations to Glamorgan County for managing to stage this game in what was a very difficult week venue wise.