Bonus point win for Buoyant Wanderers
WANDERERS 32
NEWBRIDGE 12
“Resolute defence and great tempo in our game” commented head coach Paul Matthews “A great way to celebrate the captains 100th game”.
“We’ve been threatening such a performance for a while. Shows what we are capable of” added Manager Mark Gould
“Game changed completely when I went on” added assistant coach Lee Highgate “They didn’t look like scoring until I got involved?????”
On a dry pleasant (not quite spring like) afternoon at the Memorial Ground both sides served up an excellent game for the assembled “Massiv” with the Wanderers putting in their best performance of the season. Early on both sides showed a willingness to move the ball wide and such a move led to the first try for Newbridge. In their own half they moved the ball right and a superbly weighted pass (very nearly intercepted by Aron Arthur) put them in space. Once clear they raced away and despite the cover tacklers they crossed for the 1st try 0-7. From the kick off Arthur was involved again nearly charging down a kick and from a Wanderers scrum the home side struck back. A move of several phases saw Huw Thomas and Finn Davies carry the ball deep and when Ceri Morris flashed back blind he put Ned Bennett over in the corner. Morris converted from out wide 7-7. The game moved from end to end with plenty of endeavour from both sides and it was the home side that struck next. A penalty at a lineout was taken quickly by Morris and it caught the visitors on their heels. Thomas was prominent again with a carry and Finn Davies was in support once more to cross under the posts. Morris added the extras 14-7. Back came the visitors and they were moving the scoreboard very soon afterwards. A neat move from the set piece saw their number 8 in acres of space and he cantered away to score an unopposed excellent try. The conversion went just wide 14-12. At this time the visitors were certainly in the ascendancy and the pressure was applied to the home side. Resolute defence time and time again from the Wanderers kept Newbridge at bay and several times the home side back three were called upon to make try saving tackles. The penalty count rose and it was no surprise when Ashley Bissett saw yellow taking one for the team. The visitors declined a few goal chances electing for driving lineouts, but the home side line held firm and they released the pressure. Despite being a man down they went on the attack and when awarded a penalty for a high tackle Morris slotted his first penalty to extend the lead to 17-12. The half entered its final period and the Wanderers continued to play with a high tempo. On the attack again with the back three with ball in hand this time they took the game deep and this time the bounce of the ball favoured the home side (see last week’s report) when a prod through by Morris ended up in the hands of Steff Davies. He swerved through the defence and crossed for the home side’s third try. Morris converted 24-12. Newbridge went on the attack as the half drew to a close, but the Wanderers defence once again dug deep and they went into the break ahead 24-12.
The game tempo continued after the break and it was the visitors turn to play with 14 men as a card for dissent saw a prop spend 10 minutes cooling his boots and the Wanderers started to exert control and pressure on the visitors. Morris added another penalty during this time to extend the lead to 27-12 but despite several lineouts in the opposition 22 the Newbridge maul defence was very strong and on three occasions they prevented a score and turned the ball over. Back came the home side with Arthur prominent in attack. Both sides started call for fresh legs and a call to the nearby St Fagan’s nursing home saw Ginger Highgate with the boots on again. The Wanderers pressure eventually found a weakness in the visitor’s defence and when Arthur made another break George Cottrell was on hand to race away clear for the bonus point try. The conversion went wide but the home side were comfortably ahead 32-12. There was still plenty of time left but on several occasions the control Newbridge showed early on deserted them and allowed the home side to keep their line intact. The pressure mounted on the Wanderers, but the stopwatch was against the visitors as they strove to get back into the game. They did have the consolation of scoring with the last play of the game with a neat move out wide but that was to be the final act of the match. A deserved bonus point with for the Wanderers. Final score 32-17.
Wanderers Scorers
Tries: Ned Bennett, Steff Davies, Finn Davies, George Cottrell
Con: Ceri Morris (3)
Pens: Ceri Morris (2)
Massiv MOM: Aron Arthur
Management MOM: Ceri Morris
Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd