Lloyds TSB League Division 1
Maesteg RFC, Llynfi Road, Maesteg
Saturday 8th November 2003, K.O. 2.30 pm

Previous results

07.02.98  Maesteg   16  Rumney  14
28.02.98  Rumney  43  Maesteg  28
27.04.99  Maesteg  32   Rumney  31
04.05.99   Rumney  62  Maesteg  29

Rumney : 15.M.Milsom 14.D.Clark 13.A.Jones (Capt) 12.S.McIntyre 11.I.McIntyre 10.A.Harding 9.B.Morris 1.P.Tennet 2.M.Feneck 3.M.Gee 4.M.Kelly 5.C.Jones 6.N.Coles 7.R.Sutton 8.P.Bull Replacements : N.Ritchie M.Harrington L.Macqueline C.Ford C.Barker A.N.Other

Maesteg 56    Rumney 25

Scorer for Rumney : S.McIntyre try, P.Tennet try, N.Coles try, A.Jones try, B.Morris drop goal, A.Harding conversion

Scorers for Maesteg : N.Dixon try, G.Epton 2 tries, J.Riggs 2 tries, G.Thomas try, A.Brown 2 tries, A.Bateman try, A.Howells penalty and 4 conversions

Referee : Simon Wycherley (Cwmcarn)

League leaders Maesteg were rocked when visiting scrum half Ben Morris took a quick tap penalty, from which Rumney centre Stuart McIntyre burst through his opposing centres and scored the game's opening try in less than two minutes. The home side applied persistent pressure but there was no break in the defences and they opened their account with a penalty by outside half Austen Howells and eventually, after more sustained pressure, with a corner try by full back Neil Dixon. The visitors replied with a superbly taken drop goal from Morris and, following good lineout work by flanker Ryan Sutton, a try from Man of the Match, prop Peter Tennet but despite more powerful drives from the Rumney forwards, Maesteg created a simple back row move to put Dixon in for his second try and levelled the score at 13 - 13. After half an hour's play Maesteg took the lead through a try by left wing Jason Riggs and although both sides were always ready to counterattack, it was the home side who added tries by hooker Gareth Thomas and right wing Grant Epton to arrive at the interval leading 30 - 13.

Maesteg started the second half in attacking mood and three minutes into the half Riggs finished off a good looping movement with his second try, converted by Howells. Within minutes Rumney replied with a well rehearsed set move which saw flanker Neil Coles race in unopposed under the posts. Outside half Adam Harding converted, bringing the score to 37 - 20 and they were unlucky not to score another try when lock Michael Kelly made a break from inside his own twenty two and winger Ian McIntyre was only stopped inches from the line. Replacement No8 Carl Barker came on for Rumney and added to the forward drives while Maesteg replacement Alun Brown put his side further ahead by completing a blindside move with a try and centre Allan Bateman touched down at the end of a fine move which took play the length of the pitch. Another sweeping move brought a second try for Brown and Rumney prop Matthew Gee was unlucky to have a try disallowed for a double movement. Gee was immediately back in action in an outstanding move which saw the ball pass through the hands of the Rumney forwards and backs before Stuart and Ian McIntyre fed Morris whose lightning pass put captain Anthony Jones in for the final try of the match.

Shaun Lee, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "Playing against a very experienced Maesteg side the squad battled for every scrap of possession and although we eventually lost the game we played some very good rugby and scored four good tries. Every player in the squad can hold his head up high as they were a credit to the club and the badge they were wearing. It is never easy to accept defeat but we will pull the positives out of this performance and move forward. There were a number of players who put their hands up for Rumney's Man of the Match and the eventual recipient was prop Peter Tennet."

Jim O'Brien, Rugby Secretary Rumney RFC : "We started well and although Maesteg had a bit too much power for us, we played well throughout the game. Rumney is the first side to score more than two tries at Llynfi Road this season, I was proud of everyone in the team, the front row were superb. "