DIVISION THREE EAST CENTRAL B
TONYREFAIL .............. 20 CANTON ...................... 19
TONYREFAIL made a winning start to their season with a one-point win against Canton in a game which was only decided in the final minute when the visitors failed with a touchline penalty goal attempt.
It was, however, no less than they deserved for a determined display against a side who were much bigger in most positions and particularly in the forwards where they outweighed Ton by a considerable margin.
From the whistle the visitors took the game to Ton and for 10 minutes they held the upper hand but the home side began to get their game together. They signalled their intent to run the ball wide whenever possible and they made defence difficult for Canton with some lovely handling and support play. During this period winger Chris Rand crossed for two tries, and a conversion and penalty goal gave Ton a 15-0 lead. With the forwards having the upper hand at scrum time things were looking good for the home side but in the dying minutes of the half Canton hit back with a try of their own to make it 15-5 at half-time.
The second half began like the first with Canton on the front foot and although the home forwards were creating havoc in the set scrums Canton were still able to add to their tally with two converted tries to take them four points clear. The game continued and it was beginning to look like things were drifting away from Ton but with 10 minutes to go, as they were defending on their own 10-metre line, they intercepted a pass and ran the ball back, in a frantic race, to touch down out wide. This set up a nailbiting 10 minutes for Ton supporters culminating in the missed penalty goal in the last minute.
Ton can feel happy with this result in spite of the fact it was only a one-point win. They punched above their weight throughout and the forwards particularly went well. At half back young Howell Thomas shone and outside half Geraint Shalton tackled like a back row forward but most of all it was a good team display.
Next week they are at home to newly promoted Treherbert where, hopefully, they can carry on with another win.