Fixture

Cowbridge RFC | 1st Team 23 - 17 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
17 May 2019 / Team News

Back to Back Promotion Secured

After a nervous week , akin to this years 6 Nations , but with 2 fantastic results , the final game of the season arrived with everything resting on a win. In our way Clwb Rygbi Cymru Caerdydd and from the first game it was clear this wasn't going to be easy and so it proved !

The storms of the night cleared in terms of the rain but not the wind which was going to make kicking a lottery and handling tricky. Clwb Rygbi started well and with a strong scrum within 5 minutes moved the ball to the right and through hands bringing in the full back who beat 2 defenders to go over in the corner. With the wind their outside half put over an excellent conversion . But 6 minutes later a great line out take by flanker Dan Holder and drives that involved No 8 Reuben Tucker , hooker Craig Boxall and Captain Ross Gibbon got over the line , the conversion by second row Sam Richards proved too difficult in the 50 mph winds . The game then swung back and fore and was high quality given the conditions and what was at stake . Clwb needed a win to try to avoid any possibility of relegation. On 25 minutes a charge by prop Dai Popham was recycled in midfield and then out to flanker James Holder on to Rhydian Williams and then back inside to centre Huw Lougher , in his last game after 14 seasons, to cross to loud cheers. Lougher was the saviour minutes later as their outside half executed a loop move to make the extra man and put their centre through but Lougher's superb tackle stopped a near certain try. Then Cowbridge countered with an attack through scrum half Hywel Williams. With Cowbridge in Clwb's 22 fantastic loose forward play by Boxall resulted in a charged down kick then a player offside and full back Josh Thomas from in front of the posts got the kick over for a crucial 3 points and a half time score 13 - 7

Into the second half and Boxall continued his excellent throwing in in gale force winds to hit captain Gibbon in the line out, the pack drove on and Tucker then twisted and turned out of tackles to get over for a third try. Richards came to the side lines and Aaron Bowman took over and 15 minutes in Tucker and Lougher made way for Gareth Williams - Davies to move to outside half, Tom James after a fine game , moving to centre and Tom Evans into the back row. It wasn't long before Evans trademarks tackles were in evidence as Clwb had a series of scrums just metres from the home teams try line which were repelled by the pack , with Evans and Bowman to the fore. But pressure told and again from a scrum the ball moved right and their full back again crossed . Score now 18 - 12. Williams - Davies put some good clearing kicks in to get Cowbridge down field and again the rampaging Popham scattered defenders then released the ball which bounced in front of Josh Thomas then up into his hands allowing him to run in from 15 metres . Thomas's conversion was just short . The scrum was now much steadier and Dai Breed came on for the last 10 but more defending was needed . Clwb however had the last word , their outside half had orchestrated his backs well and moving the ball from deep and through phases their excellent full back again came into the line to cross for his hat trick . Final score and huge relief 23 -17

A great game to finish and credit Clwb Rygbi who came to play. The celebrations went on in the clubhouse and Clwb stayed for some while and joined in , diolch yn fawr iawn.

Many congratulations to the team brilliantly led by Ross Gibbon , the squad and all those who have played this season. . Congratulations to coaches Leigh and Dan who took over when the team was struggling and whose revival of the team has been nothing short of miraculous . Congratulations to the Youth for their brilliant season and the coaches led so well by Rich Harris. Many thanks to our sponsors who we hope enjoyed the day at the club, well done to the organisers. Many many thanks to the huge numbers of supporters who really did push Cowbridge over the line in this year's games. 

Finally an emotional day securing promotion after many long years ,well done the players in those tough times. Emotional for Club Captain Richie Howson, unable to play through injury but always present and supporting the boys. Alex Guard and Harri Thomas similarly unable to play through injury but we hope all willbe back in action next season with Joe Davies. But most of all for Huw Lougher a fantastic captain, player and club stalwart. Thank you Huw

It should be some Club Dinner on 17th May 19:00 for 19:30 

 

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