Wanderers defy wind Gale and “Old Firm” to score 11 try victory

Mountain Ash 10
Wanderers 70

“Great performance at a venue where we know its tough to get a win. Players showed great grit and skill” commented head Coach Paul Matthews.

Huw Dowden added “Tough conditions for the lineout but a dominant scrum and some superb carrying into the wind to set plays up”.

On a surprisingly cold afternoon at the home of the Old firm several of the Wanderer’s faithful were regretting not bringing extra layers to wear as the sides were greeted to a severe gale blowing down the valley. The Wanderers had first use of the wind and the home side quickly realised the strength of the conditions as the first clearance kick ended up behind the kicker. The visitors opened the scoring early with a penalty by Gruff Ab Ieuan after good carries by the pack in midfield and a try soon followed. Ex captain Josh Male, back in the side after injury and a period of seclusion down in deepest Neath carried well and after the ball was recycled right, Shaun O’Rourke, imitating an outside centre, cut a lovely line through the defence and he lolloped away to score 0-8. With the wind keeping the game pinned in Old firm territory the pressure continued. A strong carry by Nathan Williams set up the next try and when the ball was sent wide left Reagan Moore crossed for the second try. Ab Ieuan converted 0-15. Back on the attack came the visitors and Ashley Bissett was just denied a score after he found the Mountain Ash defence nice and porous. The home side saved by some great scramble back tackling. The Wanderers lineout was suffering in the gale, but the scrum was starting to dominate and from a scrum on the home side 22 a penalty was awarded. Steff Davies, alert to any chance took a quick tap and despite two would be tacklers he forced his way over 0-20. Despite the one-sided scoreline the home side started to show some determination. Carrying well they took play into the visitors’ territory. After a penalty set up good field position a drive by the pack and then a blindside snipe by the scrum half saw him cross for their first try 5-20. Buoyed by the score Mountain Ash went back on the attack as the Wanderers were forced backwards but as the attack gained momentum Davies intercepted a ball on his own 22 and he raced away outpacing the defence to score the bonus point try. Ab Ieuan converted 5-27. The score knocked the stuffing out of the home side and the slick Wanderers backs soon added another try. This time a strike move from a scrum sent Ab Ieuan on the loop to create the extra man and wing Ned Bennett was set away to score the fifth try of the half. Ab Ieuan converted 5-34. With no let up in the wind the final minutes of the half were played out with the visitors on the attack in the home side 22 but with the lineout being blown off course there were no further scores. A penalty awarded to the Old Firm near their own line saw them clear the ball off the field to bring proceedings to a halt. Half time 5-34.

Dylan Lawley replaced Emyr Jones at half time for the visitors and the half began with the Wanderers pack doing the hard yards into the wind. A play of double figure phases managed to get the ball out of their half only for a knock on to stop the momentum. From the scrum the home side went on the attack but a repeat of the first half saw Davies intercept again and he raced away 50 metres to score his 3rd try of the afternoon. Ab Ieuan converted 5-41. Any chance of a respite for the Old Firm was certainly extinguished soon afterwards with a superb team try for the Wanderers. Good carrying into the wind with Davies and Ab Ieuan orchestrating the plays saw play taken into the home side 22 and when the ball was recycled Nathan Williams, who was a powerful handful all afternoon, crashed through the defence and smashed his way to the 7th try of the game 5-46. The Old Firm started to send for fresh legs under the onslaught, but little changed. The scrum was the next try provider. After a great attack from the backs the ball was spilled with the line beckoning. A home side scrum followed but the pack were driven backwards. Lawley picked up the ball at the back of the scrum and he forced his way over for the 8th try 5-51. The scoring didn’t let up and it was another series of good carries into the wind that set Lawley though the defence. He was caught in Mountain Ash territory, but Davies was in support. He took play deep and fed Bennett who was able to saunter in for his second try. Ab Ieuan converted 5-58. The visitors sent for fresh legs for the last quarter of the match with the result now not in doubt. Jack Beynon was the next recipient of a try scoring pass as he crossed after good carries by Male and Lawley again, making it 5-63. The game then entered a period when the referees whistle was the only consistent thing happening. Both sides received 2 yellow cards in separate incidents as several disputes broke out as to whether the WRU EGM weas a good idea before the rugby settled in again. Showing some good spirit, the home side mounted a series of attacks and they crossed for their second try to give the home side support a little to cheer about 10-63. The game entered its final minutes and as the home side tried in vain to run out of defence a forward pass halted the play. There was then some comments to the referee and he went to his pocket again this time to produce a red card. The final score of the game came when a scrum, now passive after a third yellow to the home side, saw the Wanderers execute another neat strike move that resulted in Moore crossing for his second try. Ab Ieuan added the extras final score 10-70.

Wanderer’s scorers

Tries: Steff Davies (3), Ned Bennett (2), Reagan Moore (2), Shaun O’Rourke, Nathan Williams, Jack Beynon, Dylan Lawley
Cons: Gruff Ab Ieuan (6)
Pens: Gruff Ab Ieuan

Massiv MOM: Steff Davies
Management MOM: Steff Davies

Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd