DIVISION ONE EAST CENTRAL

MOUNTAIN ASH ......... 20 PORTH .......................... 16

BOTH teams came into this Division One East Central match at Duffryn Pennar Park needing league points to climb the table.

Although the Old Firm played with a strong wind in the first half, it was the visitors who got off to the better start, scoring a converted try from a close-in scrum and kicking two penalties to go 13-0 up after 20 minutes.

Mount started to get into the game and reduced Porth’s lead to 13-3 minutes later with a superb kick from halfway by wing Will Holley.

A counter-attack started in the Mount half which involved Holley and hooker Jarrod Parfitt saw the ball kicked ahead by the wing and ended in a try in the corner, which Holley also converted with a superb strike from wide out to bring the Old Firm right back into the game at just 13-10 down.

Shortly after, a kick upfield saw full back Jack Roberts get the touchdown, which was once again superbly converted by Holley, who gave a fine display of goal kicking to give Mount a 17-13 lead at half-time, which looked unlikely after the first quarter of play.

With the strong wind in their favour, the second half was a rear guard action for the Old Firm but they defended well throughout. Porth reduced the score to 17-16 with an early 40 metre penalty after ill-discipline cost a penalty. Holley replied with another excellent kick to give Mount a 20-16 lead after 50 minutes.

Flanker Chris Edmunds was having an impressive game for Mount and replacement No 8 Matthew Dixon also made useful ground with a number of drives from scrums as the Old Firm fought tooth and nail to defend their one point lead. With the Mount defence giving nothing away, Porth kicked several penalties to the corner looking for a try but competition at the lineout by second row David Richards and the rest of the Mount pack saw the ball disrupted which allowed the Old Firm to keep the visitors out and clear.

There was no way through for Porth, leaving the Old Firm victors of a hard fought match which took them up to ninth in the league table.

Both the 2nd and Youth XV games were postponed due to the weather.

All at Mountain Ash RFC are delighted to see three former players doing well in the professional and semi-professional game. Outside half Josh Lewis, who scored 425 1st XV points back in 2010/11 when he was still a Youth age player, scored 13 points for Bath in their 23-0 win against Benetton Treviso last week. Second row Sean Moore and centre Harry Millard, both of whom are Wales Under-20 caps, have also played for the Blues Premiership Select XV in their recent British & Irish Cup matches.

Mountain Ash is a fertile breeding ground for young players. Any interested player is welcome to come along and join in training and playing for the club’s senior, youth or junior teams. Further details are on the club’s website, www,mountainashrfc.com .

This Saturday, October 28, Rhiwbina visit Duffryn Pennar Park in the second round of the Swalec Plate, the 2nds are also at home to Ystrad Rhondda in the Rhondda and East Glamorgan League, and the Youth travel to Cardiff University for a Blues Youth League fixture. All games kick off at 2.30pm.