Wanderers fall at final hurdle

Treorchy 17
Wanderers 16

“A tough loss but good experience for a young pack against an eight with some old heads in it. Injuries didn’t help but our accuracy especially at set piece hurt us” commented forwards coach Huw Dowden.

“We allowed ourselves to get into a dog fight and the error count was too high in such a game” added Manager Mark Gould.

A strong wind and cold afternoon greeted the sides at the Oval with first use of the conditions going to the home side. Dominating territory and possession Treorchy applied pressure to the visitors but the Wanderers defence held firm for the early exchanges. With the visitors set piece creaking there was little respite in the first quarter but the Zebras failed to gain any real advantage with only a solitary penalty to show for their efforts. That lead was doubled with a second penalty after some back chat to the referee allowed a penalty to be moved 10 metres closer getting the kick within range making it 6-0. At this point the Wanderers had not ventured anywhere near the opposition 22 but a penalty did give them better field position for once. Unfortunately, whenever the visitors tried to attack the aggressive defence from the Zebras and poor handling from the attackers allowed Treorchy to relieve any pressure that might have been applied. The Wanderers were forced into two changes during the half with Harry Arundel and then Ed Thomas leaving the field to be replaced by Dylan Lawley and Ceri Morris. The wind continued to blow strongly and a period of aerial tennis followed with inevitably the home side gaining the advantage as the conditions were in their favour. A penalty deep in the visitors territory was taken quickly by Morris and they took play downfield. Unfortunately, once again poor handling caused the attack to falter and Treorchy were able to clear downfield again. The pattern of the game continued up until the last minutes of the half when at last the Wanderers mounted a meaningful attack. After a little drive from a lineout the backs were released and after a move of several phases Cai Ifans and then Bleddyn Morgan went close only to be foiled near the line. Treorchy cleared and with the half time whistle in the referee’s mouth ready for the break the visitors struck. Another lineout drive was followed by some close quarter driving by the pack and then when the ball went wide Morris put in a little grubber kick. The cover defence failed to snap up the ball and Zak Fifield was on hand to gather and cross for a try. Gruff Ab Ieuan converted and somehow the Wanderers went into the break leading 6-7.
With the elements in their favour the Wanderers faithful expected the visitors to dominate the territory in the second half but the home side had other ideas. The Wanderers made some early changes to bring on fresh legs but they could not dominate as the home side had done in the first half. A penalty for a late tackle allowed Ab Ieuan to increase the lead to 6-10. Back came the home side. With the visitors lineout under the cosh an overthrow gave possession back to the home side and after recycling in midfield they moved the ball wide to cross in the corner retaking the lead 11-10. More shuffling from the coaches followed and with the game in the balance Ab Ieuan landed his second penalty to once again nudge the Wanderers ahead 11-13. The game entered its last 20 with neither side able to gain the significant advantage. The home side pressured again and a third penalty edged them ahead again 14-13 with time starting to run out. Finally the visitors had a period of pressure. Lineouts and possession in the Treorchy 22 followed and several close quarter drives followed only to be thwarted by solid Zebra defence. Eventually a chance came the way of the Wanderers and a penalty for offside allowed Ab Ieuan to nudge the visitors ahead with very little time left 14-16. You could sense one more twist in the game and that was the case. The kick off failed to go 10 and the visitors had their first chance to kill the game off, but they were pushed off the scrum and Treorchy attacked. The Wanderers dug deep and their efforts foiled the attack as the ball went into touch. The second chance to kill the game followed but the lineout was lost and the Zebras mounted one last attack. The defence this time foiled it illegally and with the last kick of the game the home side landed the penalty to send the Zebras fans home happy. Final score a deserve win for the home side 17-16.

Wanderer’s scorers

Tries: Zak Fifield
Cons: Gruff Ab Ieuan
Pens: Gruff Ab Ieuan (3)

Massiv MOM: Nathan Williams
Management MOM: Bleddyn Morgan

Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd