Wandererer relish the sun on their backs (& forwards)

Wanderers 66

Rumney 26

“A good display but if we are to achieve our goals we must still improve” commented head coach Paul Matthews.

“A great overall team performance” added Mark Gould.

On a gloriously sunny day with the Wanderers in the new figure-hugging red shirts the home side were straight out of the blocks. Following a lineout drive a good carry by Shaun O’Rourke set up play and after good recycling and a break by Gruff Ab Ieuan, Sam Reed was on hand to crash over. Ab Ieuan converted 7-0. Rumney restarted but the home side went straight back on the attack from deep. An attack went left and a bouncing ball was regathered by the Wanderers allowing Ed Thomas to race away and score in the corner. Ab Ieuan added the touchline conversion 14-0. The game settled but it was clear with the sun out the home side’s backs were relishing the task for the day. Taking a chance to run whenever ball was available, they kept the pressure on the visitors who were struggling to get into the game. They did eventually settle and started to show that with the ball they could challenge despite their lowly league position. The Wanderers then scored their third try. A Rumney knock on gave up possession in the home side half and after Steff Davies broke away. He fed Jack “I never get my picture on the website” Beynon who somehow managed to avoid the covering defence to cross in the corner. Ab Ieuan once again added the extras 21-0. Again, the Wanderers ran from the kick off but good Jackaling by the visitors gained them a penalty and they found themselves with a chance to apply some pressure. The game ebbed and flowed but then Rumney struck. Moving the ball well and recycling in midfield they caught the home side defence a little flat footed and they crossed for their first score 21-7. Any chance of a revival was quashed from the kick off. Rumney failed to deal with the kick which ended up in O’Rourke’s hands, Shrugging off would be tacklers he forced his way over for the bonus point try 26-7. With their clear ascendancy the Wanderers were a little guilty of a little over elaboration but as the half entered its final minutes and Rumney went back on the attack. This time the home side defence were on message and they saw the half out with a healthy lead 26-7.

Needing to stamp their authority from the start the Wanderers cemented their lead straight away. Good forward carries with prop Vinnay Cleak involved on two occasions resulted in a fifth try as Nathan Williams crashed over. Ab Ieuan again converted 33-7. The scoreboard was kept ticking over soon afterwards when, from a relieving kick from the visitors Thomas started a counterattack. The ball was recycled in midfield and Reed scythed through the defence with the precision of a sturgeon (should that be surgeon? Let the readers decide??)  and he raced away to score under the posts. Ab Ieuan added the conversion 40-7. Considering the heat, the pace of the game was being maintained and Rumney were certainly playing with lots of spirit. Their endeavour was rewarded soon afterwards when they scored their second try 40-14 and it was clear a try bonus point was their goal. The Wanderers rang the changes in personnel and they were rocked when a try for Rumney came out of nothing. A speculative kick downfield landed in field but when the home side failed to realise the danger the ball was handed back to the onrushing wing who raced away to score 40-21. The Wanderers settled back into their play with strong carries and defensive work by subs Gareth Reid and Anthony Cox. The home side went back on the attack and when Ab Ieuan pierced the defence he found Kyle Bradbury another sub and he raced away to score. Ab Ieuan converted 47-21. The game really started to open up and from a scrum the Wanderers struck again Moving the ball wide Reagan Moore made ground and he was supported by Thomas who took off down the wing to score his second try 52-21. Rumney were rewarded for their efforts with a bonus point try making it 52-26 but as the game entered its final minutes the home side once again asserted their dominance. A tap penalty in the visitor’s 22 set the next try up with Reid going close and Emyr Jones finishing off the move for the ninth try 59-26. The scoring for the day was concluded when Bradbury scored his second try on the back of a Beynon break down the left wing and Steff Davies stepped up to the biggest cheer of the day as he landed a touchline conversion much to the amazement of all concerned to make the final score 66-26.

Wanderers Scorers:

Tries: Sam Reed (2), Ed Thomas (2), Shaun O’Rourke, Nathan Williams, Kyle Bradbury (2), Emyr Jones, Jack Beynon
Cons: Gruff Ab Ieuan (7). Steff Davies

Massiv MOM: Emyr Jones
Management MOM: Ed Thomas    Special Mention: Emyr Jones

Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd