DIVISION 2 WEST CENTRAL

TAIBACH ...................... 15 PENCOED .................... 12

IF EVER a game could be described as one of two halves, this was the epitome.

The game started with Pencoed in the ascendancy from the outset. After 16 mins they were awarded a scrummage 15m out. No 8 Gareth Prentice picked up, went blind and fed scrum half Rhys Clarke who powered his way over wide out to open the scoring. The conversion failed. Pencoed then proceeded to make a mockery of the conditions to play an expansive game. This was rewarded when, on 20 mins, Shane Izatt set off a typical barn storming run from deep in his own half. He linked up with Rhys Thomas, he in turn fed Rhys Clarke, who then passed to Ryan Russell. He fended off the first defender and then turned on the afterburners to score an excellent team try under the posts. Adam Williams duly adding the extras.

Three minutes later, the Taibach No 13 was shown a yellow card for inappropriate comments to the referee.

Pencoed proceeded to play the rest of the half in a similar fashion. There were notable runs from several players especially Gareth Prentice and Morgan Jones. Kieron Moore was also unlucky not to score following a pick and drive. However, the Taibach defence held firm. In the last minute of the half the Taibach No 1 limped off the field resulting in uncontested scrums for the remainder of the game. Half-time score, 0-12.

As stated, the second half was a mirror image of the first with Taibach certainly the dominant force. However, their preferred tactics were to kick for position and then use pick and drive. This was rewarded after 51 minutes when they managed to force their way over near the posts. The conversion was successful. Five minutes later Pencoed lost a player to the sin bin resulting from team repeat infringement. Taibach then proceeded to “batter” the visitor’s line. This was met with determination and resoluteness. However, something had to give and Taibach managed to force their way over the line wide out. Conversion failed. The game continued in a similar vein until the third minute of injury-time when the referee adjudged Pencoed to be offside, 20m out, just to the left of the posts. With the last kick of the game, Taibach denied Pencoed.

Next week Pencoed are back in Swalec plate action, away to Penallta.