Fixture

Cowbridge RFC | 1st Team 24 - 20 Cilfynydd RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
10 January 2020 / Team News

Tough Victory for Cowbridge RFC

Tough Victory for Cowbridge RFC

 

On another glorious Saturday afternoon at the Athletic Ground Cowbridge took on fellow Division 2 team Cilfynydd in the first round of the WRU Plate - and what a fractious game it was.

Cowbridge couldn't have had a better start as an early penalty took the boys into the visitors 22.From the ensuing lineout the ball was spun out to No. 10 Gareth Williams-Davies who jinked past the first line of defence and fed the flying Sam Stephens to crash over for a fine try after just 4 minutes,converted by wing Zac Summerhayes.Cilfynydd soon reduced the deficit with a penalty.The rest of the half was littered with penalties.Cowbridge's best chance came when when James Bennett and Aaron Bowman drove up-field with George Thomas taking the ball on and gaining a penalty.An extra 10 metres for Cowbridge was accompanied by Cilfynydd's first card of the match - a yellow.With half-time looming both sides tried to run the ball but to no avail.

Half Time Cowbridge 7 Cilfynydd 3

With Sam Stephens injured,Zac Summerhayes moved to centre and Jordan Robbins came on at wing,a Cowbridge scrum on the Cil 22 allowed scrum half Hywel Williams to take the ball on,feeding George Thomas to drive over the line and Summerhayes added the extras.At 14-3 the Boys appeared to pulling away but Cil put paid to that notion as within a couple of minutes they drove from a lineout for a converted try.Not to be outdone Cowbridge stormed back as the Cowbridge half-backs Williams and Williams Davies linked with Jamie Bennett, feeding centre Ash Thomas who superbly split the defence to put No.8 Tom Higgins over under the posts.Summerhayes again converted.Cil were straight back on the attack and soon scored their second try after 20 minutes,missing the conversion.Tom James replaced Sumerhayes and from the kick off Ash Thomas went on one of his trademark weaving runs only to be held up on the 22.It was great to see Richie Howson join the fray after a long layoff with injury - which had nothing to do with the unpleasantness that followed.A red card for an elbow in the face resulted in a Cowbridge penalty converted by Alex Guard.Despite their reduced numbers Cil started to put on the pressure only to be thwarted by a great Hywel Williams tackle and Ash Thomas clearance However the visitors pressure soon paid off with an unconverted pushover try.24-20.

There followed a strange passage of play.Williams-Davies had split the Cil defence and was clear to run the 50 metres to score when the ref blew up,gave a second red card to Cil for punching and gave Cowbridge a penalty.No one seems to know why he whistled before the try could be scored.In a frantic 8 minutes of added time Cowbridge missed a penalty,the depleted visitors pack came close to a push over try only for Cowbridge to be awarded a scrum on their line and clear - and that was it.

Final Score Cowbridge 24 Cilfynydd 20.

So a close,hard fought victory,Cowbridge keeping their cool despite everything thrown at them.The front row of Chris Morris,Craig Boxall and George Thomas deserve a special mention - they were outstanding throughout.With several regulars missing,all the boys put on a performance they can be proud of.

This Saturday we travel to Taffs Well followed by Abercynon at home on 5th October.We should be playing Gilfach Goch away on the 12th but as it coincides with the 2nd round of the Plate and as the Plate takes precedent that game will have to be postponed.We do not yet know who our opponents will be in the 2nd round

 

RV/RK

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