Wanderers beaten by driving lineout

Welsh Championship Cup round-up

YSTRAD Rhondda came out on top in a thrilling and engaging contest against Glamorgan Wanderers at the Memorial Ground in Ely.

The Wanderers had made a flying start to the season with a good win over Cardiff Met but were brought back down to earth as they were outmuscled on their own patch.

In a tight affair Ystrad Rhondda’s pack came out on top to record a 28-20 win, with their driving lineout proving too much for the hosts.

The visitors crossed for four tries with blindside flanker Michael Smallman, left-wing Sion Summers, and openside flanker Jarred Llewelyn touching down twice.

Glamorgan Wanderers mustered two tries of their own courtesy of Owen Hetherhill, and Josh Male while Tyler Morris kicked ten points.

The standout try was scored by Ystrad’s Llewelyn with the impressive flanker bursting clear before running in unopposed from 45 metres out.

Summers’ try was a neat finish at the corner, while Smallman powered over from short range off the back of a driving lineout.

This victory takes Ystrad Rhondda up to second in Group Two of the WRU Championship Cup, a mere point behind Cardiff Met and one point above Glamorgan Wanderers. This was the only Championship Cup fixture played this weekend, but there was plenty of action in the Plate.

Arguably the match of the weekend came in District B1 of the Plate with Llanishen recording a 32-27 home win over Rhiwbina in a cracking game.

In District C1 Abercynon beat Aberdare 17-15, and Abercwmboi won 9-7 at Treharris in a pretty dire affair.

The standout result in the WRU Bowl was Abertysswg’s 75-14 win over New Tredegar.