WRU NATIONAL BOWL ROUND TWO
RHIGOS .......................... 3 TYLORSTOWN ............ 13
TYLORSTOWN ran out convincing winners at Rhigos Park, watched by legendary Wales back row player and former Rhigos captain, Dai Morris.
The basis of the win was a dominant set piece and fine individual performances from hooker Jamie Davies and centre Jordan Williams, both in their first season of senior rugby.
Rhigos started well and scored the first points after the visitors were penalised at the breakdown. Outside half Michael Melhuish levelled the scores soon afterwards. Hooker Davies found his jumpers with regularity at the lineouts and was a significant ball carrier all game.
Tylorstown’s scrum became more and more dominant as the first half progressed and this pressure resulted in Tylorstown’s first try. From a Rhigos put-in, Tylorstown drove the home team off the ball and the ever impressive back row forward Nathan Davies picked up and charged into the opposition defence. From the ruck, the Tylorstown backs passed it along the line to wing Chris Griffiths, another player fresh from the youth side, who scored in the corner.
Coach Dean Gauvain made a number of changes in the forwards. Substitute Marcus Chapman entered the fray and made a considerable impact. With another ball carrier on the field, this allowed Tylorstown to find gaps close to the breakdown.
On a number of occasions Tylorstown came close to scoring. Flanker and captain Chris Lloyd made a 50-yard break but the final pass went to ground. His back row colleague Dai Hefford broke through on another occasion with the pass again going to ground.
Against the run of play, Rhigos intercepted a misspass inside their 22m line and the wing seemed destined to touch down until Jordan Williams raced back and made a fine covering tackling to deny Rhigos a certain try.
In the dying minutes of the game Hefford broke clear. The ball went through a number of pairs of hands with Williams delivering the final pass to the dynamic Chapman who scored in the corner.
Next week Tylorstown resume league action and host Old Penarthians at Penrhys Park.