Fixture

Cowbridge Start Season with Emphatic Victory

Cowbridge RFC's introduction to League 3 East Central A couldn't have been much better.A coach full of players and supporters (many more travelled by car) left the Club at 11.45 heading for Talgarth for the first league match of the season against Gwernyfed RFC.

The home side kicked off on a warm sunny afternoon and Cowbridge and within 45 seconds Cowbridge were ahead as wing Josh Thomas collected a chip ahead to sprint over in the corner.Cowbridge kept the pressure on from the restart and were almost over again following a lovely dummy by fly half Sam Stephens.Despite plenty of possession Cowbridge had to wait until the 20th minute for the next score.A penalty for a high tackle resulted in a lineout 15 metres out.Scrum half Hywel Williams drove towards the line and captain Ross Gibbon took over to crash across the line with livewire full back Zac Summerhayes converting.After some good play by the home side Cowbridge attacked from a lineout on the half way but a late tackle on Stephens resulted in a yellow card and Summerhayes kicked the penalty to the corner.A fine lineout take by Gibbon gave momentum for a series of drives with fellow second row Lewis Hopkins claiming a third try for the boys.Again Summerhayes converted.Just before the half time whistle Gwernyfed kicked a penalty in a rare foray into the Cowbridge half.

Half time Gwernyfed 3 Cowbridge 19

If Cowbridge thought the second half was going to be more of the first from the off they were mistaken.From the kick off Gwernyfed driving maul took play up to the 22 and despite a fine clearance by Summerhayes the home side's bulky centre strolled through the Cowbridge defence for a converted try.If that wasn't a wake up call a penalty soon afterwards brought the score to 13-19..However,normal service was soon resumed.A powerful Cowbridge scrum on the halfway,good runs by scrum half Williams and centre Ash Thomas was followed by a dazzling run by Josh Thomas took him within metres of the line and a superb inside pass released Will Williams who touched down under the posts for Summerhayes to convert.That seemed to act as a catalyst for Cowbridge and within a few minutes centre Tom Harrison,who had just got on the field,burst through the defence from 30 metres to sprint over the line.Josh Thomas,who had taken over kicking duties,converted.It only took another few minutes for Harrison to get back on the scoreboard.The kick off went straight out and a powerful Cowbridge scrum (the front row had been outstanding throughout) allowed scrum half Williams to break and release the backs for Harrison to stroll over,Josh Williams adding the extras.With young George Thomas joining the front row to great effect Cowbridge continued to attack at every opportunity and from a lineout prop Jon Bater muscled his way over the whitewash.With tails up and the likes of Dan Holder,Jack Anderson and Rhys Price creating mayhem amongst the home defence it was not long before the Bridge recorded an eighth try as wing Rhidian Williams showed the defence a clean pair of heels as sprinted over for a fine try.

Fair play to the home,they didn't give up and on the stroke of full time scored a consolation try.

Final Score Gwernyfed 20 Cowbridge 50

There will be much tougher games than this to come but it was a great way to start with the boys playing some of the exciting rugby that was their trademark for much of last season.The pack was on top throughout and the backs willing to attack from any part position.

Finally thanks to Gwernyfed for their warm welcome and hospitality 

This Saturday will be a sterner test again old rivals Pontyclun at the Athletic Ground.Let's get a great crowd there to support the boys.The follow Saturday we travel to Canton for the 1st round of the prestigious WRU Bowl competition,followed by a trip to Treharris on the 22nd.

RV/RK