Rumney v Pontypool 22.09.2007

Rumney : 15.T.Daly  14.P.Collett  13.A.Jones  12.P.Niblett (Capt) 11.L.Plummer  10.A.Carlson  9.B.Morris 1.J.Leadbeatter   2.M.Feneck  3. C.Gale  4.M.Kelly  5.P.Bull  6.M.Way   7.R.Sutton  8.A.Brake    Replacements :  A.Wilson  J.Russell  G.Niblett  J.Cozzi  J.O'Donnell

Scorers for Rumney : T.Daly 2 tries, B.Morris try, M.Way try, A.Carlson conversion

Scorers for Pontypool : R.Nash try, R.Dennington try, P.Price try, G.O'Driscoll try and 4 conversions and 3 penalties

A fine afternoon in early summer at Wales' most beautiful rugby ground brought out all the running and handling skills as Pontypool and Rumney met in an eight try spectacular that concluded the 2007-2008 season in a worthy fashion. There was strong pressure from Rumney from the start, flanker Ryan Sutton controlling the lineouts, outside half Andrew Carlson jinking through gaps and all the forwards and backs becoming involved in handling movements, and wingers Lincoln Plummer and Paul Collett looking particularly dangerous. Pontypool also began in expansive mood, Cae Trayhern, playing at flanker, breaking powerfully from the back of the scrum, and one counterattack only being frustrated by a try saving tackle from visiting fullback Tom Daley, but in the thirteenth minute Rumney were caught offside and home fullback Geraint O'Driscoll opened the scoring with a successful kick at goal. Rumney gave away further penalties and had to mount a sturdy defence to contain Pooler Captain and hooker Leighton Jones and energetic scrum half Gareth Betts, but Sutton's continued rule at the lineout and a battling midfield performance by flanker Matthew Way kept play mostly in the home half. Pooler stand off Dan Phillips sent his side back downfield with long touchfinders but Carlson and Plummer conspired in an excellent breakout, and Rumney centres Paul Niblett and Anthony Jones started an intricate, high tempo movement full of flick passes between forwards and backs, which took the home side back into defensive positions. In the twenty seventh minute the Pontypool backs broke out and Trayhern, appearing on the left wing, took play deep into Rumney territory where a stretched defensive line was split by No8 Rob Nash as he crossed under the sticks. O'Driscoll put over the conversion and five minutes later another clinical handling movement involving Nash, set the stage for winger Phil Price to touch down, O'Driscoll's kick taking the score to 17 - 0. In the thirty fifth minute the fullback added another conversion but just before half time outstanding Rumney No8 Adam Break tore upfield from a scrummage, linking well with scrum half Ben Morris and Plummer, whose crosskick confused the home defenders, and from a quick, tapped penalty Niblett cleverly fed Daly who sprinted in under the posts. Carlson added the points, the scoreboard reading 20 - 7 at the interval.

The Rumney front five worked flat out through the entire game, hooker Michael Feneck, props John Leadbeatter and Charlie Gale not only providing an unmoveable front row foundation but also leading forward charges, second rows Michael Kelly and Paul Bull tirelessly ballcarrying in midfield and spearheading attacks. Just after the break however, a loose pass gave Pontypool centre Richie Dennington the chance to hack on, collect well and score an opportunist try. O'Driscoll converted and another spectacular Pooler handling movement between forwards and backs was followed by a magnificent counter by Way and Kelly, and the end to end action continued with a remarkable length of the field dash by Bull, Leadbeatter securing the ball for Brake who was storming up in support and for full of fire flanker Anthony Wilson to carry it on. When Pontypool conceded the penalty, it gave Rumney an attacking lineout and a superb ten metre controlled drive ended with powerful scrum half Morris appearing in the middle of the pack and crashing over for a fine try. Five minutes later, in the sixtieth minute, another brilliant counterattack by Niblett and Plummer sent Daly haring away for a spectacular corner try and although O'Donnell slotted his third penalty and Pooler produced more outstanding midfield play, Rumney were now performing at their best, Collett and Jones rattling their opposite numbers, with replacement forwards Joe Russell, John Cozzi and James O'Donnell and utility back Gareth Niblett all impressing with their workload and commitment. In the seventy second minute a further unstoppable forward drive finished with Way diving over for Rumney's fourth try but in the seventy sixth minute another high quality handling movement by Pooler saw O'Driscoll cross for a try and conversion, and despite a storming conclusion by Kelly and Brake and a threatening burst by Gareth Niblett, the visitors could not conjure up a fifth try and a magnificent game ended Pontypool 37 Rumney 22, Pooler looking forward to their place in the Premiership next season and Rumney very satisfied with their campaign and their concluding Division 1 mid table position.

Mike Peard, Forwards Coach Rumney 1st XV : "I thought it was a really great game of rugby, we gave a good account of ourselves and scored four tries. To be honest, we always knew it was going to be difficult coming to Pontypool with them having been promoted as champions, and good luck to them in the Premiership, we hope they do well. Our plan today was to win quick first phase and move the ball about, we did that for the first thirty minutes but then once again we stopped playing for ten minutes and let Pooler in for a couple of tries. We disrupted their line and the scrum went well but their No8 kept picking up and making good yardage, so at half time we talked about how to stop that but a defensive error let them in for another try early in the second half. Pontypool were smarter than us in the way they played and we lost 37 - 22 but all the boys enjoyed it and I have been very pleased with their attitude throughout the season. I speak for Coach Steve Ford and Fitness Advisor Gwynne Griffiths when I say thank you to all the players, they've done us proud to finish in a mid table position and we are very happy with the way it has gone. We are looking forward to a couple of weeks off and then we'll be getting back down to it. Adam Brake had a good game, there were lots of players showing off their skills and Lincoln Plummer was the Man of the Match, Lincoln looked very dangerous with the ball in his hand and gave good offloads."

Paul Collett, wing Rumney 1st XV : "We played well but missed a few chances and looked the better attacking team, but Pontypool didn't make mistakes in their twenty two, which is what we did. Andrew Carlson went well at No10 and so did Tom Daly at fullback, and the forwards, from one to eight, were excellent. I've been at Rumney for a couple of months now and I've enjoyed it, it's a good club to be with."

John Cozzi, second row Rumney 1st XV, Joe Russell, prop Rumney 1st XV, Ben Morris, scrum half Rumney 1st XV : "It was an excellent game played in a good spirit, Rumney kept going for eighty minutes and ran Pontypool so close in the end. We put a lot of pressure on them, it was an enjoyable experience and we'll carry the attitude on into next season. Adam Brake and Tom Daly had stormers."

James O'Donnell, hooker Rumney 1st XV : "It was hot, but we played well, it was open, fast, physical rugby. Paul Niblett, Lincoln Plummer, Tom Daly and Adam Brake were impressive. Pontypool are a well organised team and they won it by being more clinical and organised."

Gareth Niblett, threequarter Rumney 1st XV : "A good, fast, hard game but we made mistakes and that cost us - every time we made a mistake Pontypool scored. Lincoln Plummer and Tom Daly played very well today."