Brynithel v Rumney 23.04.05

Rumney : 15.D.Clements 14.J.Offside 13.G.Niblett 12.I.Blackburn 11.M.Miller 10.P.Niblett (Capt)  9.P.Nash 1.P.Douglas 2.R.Bloomberg 3.R.Hanmer 4.J.Braine 5.M.Kelly 6.R.Sutton 7.R.Fenton 8.C.Barker  Replacements :  B.Phillips J.O'Donnell

Referee : Peter Mortimer

Scorers for Rumney : D.Clements try, P.Nash conversion

Scorers for Brynithel : G.Hayes try, D.Slimmon try, A.Jayne try, M.Williams conversion

A lively start found Rumney counterattacking from their own half with No8 Carl Barker, winger Matthew Miller, and props Paul Douglas and Rhodri Hanmer in immediate action, but after eight minutes Brynithel worked a blindside move from a ten metre scrum to put winger Gavin Hayes in for the opening try. Home outside half Mark Williams converted and his side were soon on the attack again, but Rumney kept them out and a long clearance kick by flanker Ryan Sutton and a penetrating run by fullback Dan Clements took play away from the danger zone. When lock Jamie Braine took opposition ball in the lineout, he started a skilful movement with Douglas and flanker Ryan Fenton before outside half Paul Niblett scythed through the defences, linked with Barker and scrum half Paul Nash who drew in tacklers before releasing Clements to sprint in for the try under the sticks. Nash's conversion brought the scores level and Rumney's best period of the match saw Sutton and threequarters Joey Offside and Ian Blackburn finding big gaps, but Brynithel gradually tightened their defensive line and in the thirty fifth minute constructed a neat passing movement to put centre Dean Slimmon in for their second try.

The half time score was 12 - 7 and although Rumney still looked dangerous on the break, they were now suffering from frequent loss of possession at the breakdown. By contrast, Brynithel were now showing their ability to make the most of holding and contolling the tight ball, forcing the visitors to concede penalties in attempts to stop their forward drives, and in the fiftieth minute the home side completed several phases of play with a push over try for prop Tony Jayne. Most of the remaining thirty minutes found Rumney contained in their own half conceding errors and turnovers, but good tackling by centre Gareth Niblett, lock Michael Kelly, hooker Rhys Bloomberg and James O'Donnell prevented Brynithel from adding to their total and Fenton, Sutton, Blackburn and Clements still offered the chance of breakaway scores, but The Owls wisely kept things tight and ran down the clock for a 17 - 7 victory.

Stuart Coles, forwards coach Rumney RFC : "Very disappointing, we were very rusty. Our preparations were hampered by late cry-offs and a shortage of players, but those players who did take the field put their hearts into it and gave their all. We were too loose around the rucks and conceded a large number of turnovers, the boys tried hard but after so much time off we were not fit enough. Ryan Fenton was outstanding and Paul Douglas had a stormer, the Man of the Match was Ian Blackburn."