Ystrad too clinical for Wanderers

Wanderers 28

Ystrad Rhondda 43

“That’s the difference between sides at the top, of the division and those in the bottom half” commented Tony Murphy Chair of the rugby committee “Ystrad were more clinical when they had a chance to score. We created chances but didn’t convert them”.

“Some silly errors cost us but we kept on battling to the end and deservedly picked up that try bonus point at the end” added coach Andrew Roberts

On a pleasant afternoon at the Memorial Ground the early exchanges were even with both sides testing out each other’s defences. A defensive lineout in the Wanderers 22 saw Dan Stancombe carry and Ryan Nunes break downfield. Ystrad scrambled back well and thwarted the attack on halfway. Both sides showed willingness to play when the chances arose but final execution and control allied with well organised defences kept the scoreboard still. The Wanderers had a chance with a lineout deep in the Ystrad 22 but crossing at the lineout allowed the visitors to clear. The deadlock was then broken. Ystrad established field position and with slick handling they moved the ball wide to cross in the corner 0-5. The home side responded but after breaking downfield poor execution and a lack of patience allowed the visitors to clear. Soon afterwards Ystrad scored a superb length of the field try. The Wanderers were awarded a penalty which they kicked deep into the 22. The ball was overthrown and Ystrad broke clear. Good handling and once again slick execution ended up with a try to double the lead 0-10. The conversion added the two points and with the half heading to its final minutes the visitors were ahead 0-12. With their tails up the cup finalists piled on the pressure pounding the Wanderers line and a third score looked inevitable but the home side resilience shone though. Defending several penalty scrums they held out and a fine jackal on the line gave the Wanderers a penalty and allowed them to clear their lines. The half entered injury time and at last the home side struck. An attack led to a penalty and the home side elected to take a scrum. From the set piece a midfield move saw Nunes with a rare gap in the defence and he crossed for the try. Gruff Tough added the extras and the sides went into the break at 7-12.

A bout of aerial tennis started the second half with the Wanderers making a change in the front row, Cameron Growcott making his debut. Ystrad were soon into their stride and once again they showed slick hands and incisive running to secure their third try out wide making it 7-19. The visitors sensed a chance to kill the game and when again they moved the ball wide a neat step leaving Hughes on his rear end saw them score the bonus point try and extend the lead to 7-26. The Wanderers started to empty the bench but the visitors put the game out of reach when they turned over a ball on the Wanderers 22 and they broke blind to score again 7-31. With the game out of reach the home side then showed some real grit and determination. Led by Morgan Williams who started popping up all over the place they gave the Massiv something to cheer. It was Williams himself who shrugged off several tacklers to crash over be the posts to give the Wanderers heart 14-31. Feeling a slight shift in momentum the home side attacked again. Stancombe burst through and despite a bizarre kick in the Ystrad 22 the home side managed to keep the attack going and sub Rob Weston crashed over for a third try. Tough converted again 21-31. Ystrad sensing the potential for a tough final quarter upped their game. They snuffed out any thoughts of the comeback with two further tries making it 21-43. The Wanderers did though have a final say as they secured a try bonus point when Alfie Llewellyn, who had certainly put in a shift, took a quick penalty and crashed over for the final score of the day 28-43. A deserved and clinical win for Ystrad.

 

Wanderers’ scorers

Tries: Ryan Nunes, Morgan Williams, Rob Weston, Alfie Llewellyn

Cons: Gruff Tough (4)

Management Man of the match: Alfie Llewellyn
Massiv Man of the Match: Morgan Hughes

Match PIcs: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd