Bennett bonanza at Riverside park

RUMNEY 5
WANDERERS 68

“A decent performance with ball in hand but precision at times let us down and we certainly left some points out there” commented head coach Paul Matthews.

“Their pack certainly caused us some problems giving us things to work on” added Huw Dowden.

A bright sunny afternoon greeted the teams onto Riverside Park and there was action from the kick off. Ned Bennett caught the first kick off and he shipped the ball into midfield. Ashley Bissett burst through the defence and he set off downfield. With the defence still getting organised Bissett fed Finn Davies who was up in support and Davies raced away to open the scoring. Jake Lloyd converted 0-7 with some of the crowd still entering the ground. The home side settled into their task and showed signs that they were more than capable with ball in hand, but the Wanderers defence was on form early on to halt any progress Rumney tried to make. The threat from deep remained from the visitors and when Shaun O’Rourke went off on a gallop downfield another score looked on the cards. He fed Bennett who raced off for the corner only to be thwarted by a superb tackle as he attempted to ground the ball. From the goal line drop out Ed Thomas countered well and the ball was carried back into the home side 22. A ruck infringement gave the Wanderers a chance with a 5-metre lineout but the ball went astray at the restart. Regathering the play the visitors moved the ball wide and after being held up the forwards set up a series of close quarter drives. The last of these saw Davies force his way over for the second try. Lloyd converted 0-14. From the kick off the Wanderers were straight back on the attack moving the ball wide this time it was Tomos Jones who was the recipient of a chance. He outstripped the defence and once in clear space he raced away to score the third try of the afternoon. Lloyd added the extras 0-21. A good jackal on halfway then presented Rumney with a chance. The penalty gave them field position and a good break in midfield took play deep only for the ball to be spilled in the visitors 22. Back came the Wanderers and another Jones break nearly resulted in a try and that was followed by a break from Davies who looked on for his third try only to find the defence a little quicker than he was and Rumney halted the attack. The attacks continued as the Rumney defence struggled to contain the visitors’ backs. The next score came after a quickly taken penalty saw Rhys Richards make a break and he found Bennett who was on hand to score his first try of the day. Again, Lloyd converted 0-28. From the kick off it appeared that O’Rourke had been shot by a local sniper in the woods as he went to ground. Despite this the ball was moved wide again and when the play was taken deep into the Rumney half Lazarus O’Rourke suddenly appeared on the wing (his favourite position) to carry the move on. A penalty thwarted the play but despite it being quickly taken the score was not forthcoming. The half ended with both sides seeing yellow after someone slandered Mike Vaughan’s personal stylist. Two Rumney players and Vaughan going to the bin. The visitors then created another chance out wide and Jones cantered in for his second try to make it 0-35 at the break.

The half time oranges were clearly what the home side needed and they were straight on the attack from the kick off. With forwards and backs carrying well they breached the Wanderers defence and crossed for their first try 5-35. The Wanderers started to bring on the fresh legs and for a while the home side showed good spirit and their willingness to move the ball gave the home side crowd something to cheer. The Wanderers then settled to their task and once again it was from deep that they struck. Moving the ball wide in their own 22 Jones set off downfield and after being caught the visitors recycled the ball. Richards kicked the ball behind the defence and Bennett kicked the ball on. He then won the foot race to the ball in goal and scored his 2nd try 5-40. With the game now not in doubt and both sides ringing the changes that game broke up a little. Bennett then landed his hat-trick try after a counter by Thomas, who kicked the ball on and once again Bennett was the quickest to the ball to score. Lloyd converted 5-47. With the Wanderers mixing it up in midfield to try out new combinations there was no let up in the onslaught. The execution was at some points not as the coaches would have liked it but the threat was evident. The 8th try followed after a move down the right was recycled left and Jones this time supplied the pass to Bissett who was up in support. He crossed besides the posts. Lloyd converted 5-54. Despite the losing cause Rumney kept their spirit up and continued to try their best but it was all in vain. Try of the game then followed when again the Wanderers attacked from deep. With both forwards and backs handling well play went from one end to the other and Bennett was the man to round it off for the 9th and his 4th try of the game. Lloyd converted 5- 61. The game ended as it had started with the last play seeing Jack Beynon, who had removed his scrum cap to look better in the photos, cross for the 10th try. Lloyd added his 9th conversion. Final score 5-68.
Wanderers scorers:
Tries: Ned Bennett (4), Finn Davies (2), Tomos Jones (2), Ashley Bissett, Jack Beynon
Cons: Jake Lloyd (9)

Massiv MOM: Ned Bennett
Management MOM: Ned Bennett

Match Pics:   https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd