Wanderers battle but Rumney dominate

Rumney 37
Wanderers 22

“Considering the injuries we have sustained lately and the fact that half the squad seem to be on holiday seeking post season sun (before the end of the season!)we did well just to put a team on the field. Those that did make themselves available certainly put their hands up and fronted up in a fixture that is always a tough one” commented chairman of rugby Tony Murphy.

“Huge character in adversity shown by those that turned up” commented head coach Paul Matthews “Some really big shifts put in by several players deserve to be noted”

On a blustery but dry afternoon at Riverside Park the squad used the warm up to introduce themselves to each other and everyone drew lots for positions and shirt numbers, Gruff John Morris drawing the number 8 shirt on the grounds at 5ft 2” he was the tallest in the back row! There was as bright start from the visitors as Sam Matthews (one of 12 relatives/ Offspring or extended family of the head coach playing today!) Intercepted a pass deep in Wanderers territory. He raced away downfield just being hauled down short of the line. The pressure remained and when, after a lineout, the ball was moved into midfield Matthews broke through again to score. Tom Morrissey converted 0-7. Rumney responded instantly taking their own kick off (see 20 previous reports)they moved the ball wide and crossed for their first try 5-7. The lively start continued and when Reagan Moore made ground out wide right an offside gave the visitors a penalty and Morrissey extended the lead to 5-10. That was the last cheer for the travelling Massiv until just before the break as a more coherent home side started to exert themselves on the game. Using powerful carries from the pack and backs the Wanderers came under pressure and before long they were ahead with their second try 12-10. That lead was extended after a loose ball was sapped up and as the half entered its final quarter the Rumney bonus point was already in the bag and the lead extended to 24-10. The visitors went to the bench early but there wasn’t anyone there (Mark Gould was doing a Coxy having forgotten his boots) but despite being somewhat disjointed one could not fault the effort being made. Finn Davies showing defensively, if you got him up early in the lineout he still had time to race across the field and tackle the opposition wing before any ground was made. On the stroke of halftime the Massiv raised a glass as Zak Fifield crossed for the Wanderers second try, converted by Morrissey and the sides went into the break at 24-17.

At half time news filtered thorough that the 2nds XV were beating Barcelona 24-0 but there was a much closer game going on in Toronto where the 3rds were losing 12-14 to a side of Canadian Elk!

Unfortunately the second half provided the Massiv with little cheer. The effort continued but , not surprisingly, a more coherent and drilled Rumney side (rumours about several of their players having played together before are being investigated by the WRU! ) dominated proceedings. A fifth try put the game to bed (possibly finding several Wanderers squad members under the duvet) and a penalty made it 34-17 soon afterwards. The Wanderers emptied the bench (didn’t take long) and they continued to battle hard is a losing cause. There was a spark of light when Rhys Strawbridge broke through the wall of red shirts. He fed Matthews and the this season’s top try scorer Ed Thomas once again did well to round off the move and score in the corner 34-22. Any wishful thought of a revival was snubbed out when a Rumney penalty underlined their dominance to end the scoring 37-22. There was a late contender for try of the season when Thomas started a move deep in his own 22 and with good support play went the length of the field. Sadly for it to be a try of the season contender you have to score which we didn’t!. Final score 37-22.

Wanderers Scorers

Tries: Sam Matthews, Zak Fifield, Ed Thomas
Cons: Tom Morrissey (2)
Pens: Tom Morrissey

Massiv MOM: Finn Davies
Management MOM: Sam Matthews

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