WEST CENTRAL
MAESTEG ...................... 8 YSTALYFERA .............. 11
WITH Maesteg’s most experienced hooker Keiren Mattocks, leaving for Australia the previous week and every other member of the front row union injured, along came an unlikely replacement in a passive scrum scenario.
Playing his 200th game for the club and being the holder of the league record for tries by a forward with 154 touchdowns Karl Hocking never expected to celebrate his double century at the coal face.
Saying that, Matthew “Pinetree” Davies didn’t intend to be the tallest prop ever to play for the Old Parish.
Passive scrums has a lot going for it; less penalties, ball in play much more, etc. The visitors, unbeaten this season to date just got over the finish line with a late penalty but it was the home team who had most of the possession and territory. A one point losing bonus was not a fair reflection on their efforts.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play when an overlap in midfield saw flanker Ryan James go over for an unconverted try.
A nice run by wing Geraint Roberts, and a linebreaking burst by Sam Griffiths, the first of many, found Matthew Davies at outside centre but his pass was just intercepted five metres out. With Ystalyfera putting the boot to the ball, the rain and muddy surface found running back difficult and an attempt from deep by Maesteg was pinged at the breakdown and Steff Castle slotted a penalty for the visitors.
Maesteg struck back 10 minutes into the second half when a run by Dewi Parry near the touchline saw quick hands from Liam Healy and Tadgh McGuckin to free wing Callum Powell inches from the touchline 50 metres out, and his try brought Maesteg back in to the game.
Ryan Turner, Tyler “The Clamp” Dawe, tackled everything that moved, and Gavin Ronan, Karl Hocking, and Dewi Parrry made sure the team went forward at every chance.
A sustained period of pressure gave Maesteg a penalty 40m out and Tadgh McGuckin slotted it to even the scores. And that is the way it stayed until on a rare visit near to the home 22Ystalyfera got a penalty and Steff Castle got the winning points 10 minutes from time.