Rumney : 15.P.Nash 14.J.Offside 13. P.Niblett (Capt) 12.G.Bowen 11.D.Clements 10.D.Clark 9.B.Morris 1.N.Trevett 2.M.Feneck 3.K.O'Connor 4.R.Williams 5.M.Kelly 6.R.Fenton 7.R.Sutton 8.C.Barker Replacements : I.Blackburn J.Harris S.Coles P.Douglas
Referee : Paul Richards (Droitwich)
Scorers for Rumney : J.Offside try, R.Fenton try, D.Clark conversion
Scorers for Pill Harriers : G.Hassell 2 tries, M.Everson try, M.Dwyer try, C.Barnett 2 conversions, S.Bessan conversion
Rumney started the new season
with a substantial defeat at the hands of Pill Harriers who were
playing their first league game at Riverside Park, having been
promoted to the Second Division at the end of the 2004-2005 campaign.
After an uncertain start the home side managed to put together
a number of moves but could not breach the visitors' defence and
conceded possession through unforced errors. The Harriers were
the first to settle and initially played a controlled, forward
game using careful build ups to gain territory, but a rapid break
out of defence by Rumney centre Gareth Bowen took play back deep
into the Pill half of the field and from a ten metre line out,
scrum half Ben Morris started a threequarter movement which put
left wing Joey Offside in at the corner for the opening try, after
twenty minutes. Despite good work by Rumney forwards Nathan Trevett
and Carl Barker, the Harriers immediately struck back, keeping
the ball with the forwards until a quick move to the right allowed
right wing Gareth Hassell to coast through untouched for an 
equalising try. Home
outside half Danny Clark found gaps in the opposition defences
but Rumney's finishing was still letting them down and from a
turnover on their own ten metre line, Pill spread it wide and
a fifty metre dash ended with full back Mark Everson racing down
the wing through weak tackles to touchdown under the posts. Carl
Barrett's conversion took Pill into a 5 - 12 lead and though Rumney
attacked well through Ryan Fenton and Offside, the visitors took
play back into opposition territory and outside half Leighton
Burrows' excellent delayed pass sent Hassell scything through
again for his second try and a half time lead of 5 - 19.
The second half was a far better one for Rumney with Trevett, flanker Ryan Sutton and centre Ian Blackburn causing plenty of problems for the Harriers, and following a brilliant long range break, Clark was unlucky to miss out on a try when he was held up over the line. Prop Paul Douglas' return to the Rumney 1st XV saw him in good form, providing power and skill in the attacks and No8 Stuart Coles also added more forward drive but a superb counterattack by Everson knocked the homeside back when hooker Nathan Dwyer finished the move off with a quality try. Scott Bessan converted to extend the lead to 5 - 26 but more pressure from Douglas, Blackburn and Sutton shook the Harriers' defence and when Fenton picked up a loose ball he thundered through tacklers for a fine try from twenty five metres out. Clark added the conversion but time was running out and there were no further scores before Mr Richards blew for the end of the game, and a well taken win for the Harriers.
Peter Morelli, lock Pill Harriers 1st XV : "A fast game played in good spirit. We just came out on top with a slightly heavier pack."
Stuart Coles, Player Coach Rumney 1st XV : "What can I say ? I am very disappointed and the biggest disappointment was the lack of desire in the team, the Harriers wanted to win and we made the mistakes that allowed them to do so. On the positive side we did make enough chances to have won the game and we are determined to improve attitude and performance for next week's game against Abercynon. The Man of the Match was Ryan Fenton whose workrate was superb, he was head and shoulders above everybody else."
