DIVISION ONE EAST CENTRAL
GLAMORGAN WANDERERS ............... 52 MOUNTAIN ASH ........... 7
THE Old Firm were beaten by a strong, more powerful and capable Wanderers team on the day.
Mount kept going throughout and got their only score through a try by centre Alex Hughes and a conversion by outside half Matthew Parfitt.
Looking at the Wanderers, they look as if they will be tough opposition at home for most in Division One East Central this season. Mountain Ash Athletic didn’t have much luck either as Aberdare 2nd XV called off the Rhondda and East Glamorgan League game at 1.15pm due to a lack of players.
It was left to Mountain Ash Youth to show the way forward with two good performances last week. First up was a home Blues League game against the league champions Rumney which saw the Young Firm just edged out, 1815.
After a subdued first half, Mount came alive in the second and pushed Rumney all the way.
A great marauding run by flanker Owen Jenkins seemed to take the whole of the Rumney team over the line with him for a superb try, and then fellow flanker Daniel Phillips charged down a kick after constant pressure to get the second try.
Outside half Morgan James kicked a conversion and a penalty to take Mount up to 15, and although Rumney regrouped, they could not break through in the final 10 minutes, when the Young Firm dug in and defended superbly.
At Talywain last Saturday in the first round of the Welsh Youth Cup, the home team took a first-half 10-0 lead before Mount once again upped their performance.
Five minutes before half-time, second row Mitchell Barnard went over for a try after a number of forward drives to make it 10-5 at the break.
In the second half, Mount scrum half Morgan Cartwright lifted the tempo and ran at Talywain at every opportunity, with the forwards supporting him and taking the ball on through phase after phase.
Eventually the ball was passed to flanker Owen Jenkins, who was on an angled run which took him through the home defence for an excellent try to level the game at 10-10.
Ten minutes later, that man Jenkins did it again – and scored his third try in two games – running another superb angle to score virtually an identical try.
Outside half Morgan James’ conversion made the score 17-10.
Mount continued to dominant with some strong charges from prop Lewys Phibben who had a fine game, and with 10 minutes left, James kicked a penalty to make it 20-10 to complete the scoring and take the Young Firm into the second round draw.
This Saturday, Mount travel to Cardiff Quins in the first round of the Swalec Plate, the 2nds are looking for a game, and the Youth are away to Merthyr Youth in the Blues Youth League. All games kick off at 2.30pm.