Fixture

Rhydyfelin v Garndiffaith - WRU Plate Round 1

With the league taking a back seat this weekend Rhydyfelin welcomed Garndiffaith of division 2 East to Hawthorn Recreation Ground for Round 1 of the WRU plate competition.

The game began on a sour note as within a minute or two one of the Garndiffaith players went over on his knee and required a stretcher to leave the field of play. With the delay in play it took both sides a few minutes to get up to speed and the 1st try of the day soon came.

A scrum on half way was worked down the blind side catching the away side unaware, allowing prop Chris Phillips to crash over for the score. The conversion by captain Lewis Smith gave Rhydyfelin a 7 point lead.

The visitors from division 2 were holding their own in the scrums but around the breakdowns the offloading from 'The Village' was especially pleasing on the eye and causing problems for the defence. 15mins in a second try came when the offloading and strong running resulted in flanker Kyle Perry scoring the try.

Garn enjoyed a little possession and territory but the home defence held firm. With possession stolen in midfield the ball was passed wide to winger Jordan Rees who's fend and out and outpace left the defenders in his wake, racing clear to score (17-0).

The third try took a little wind out of the visitors and Rhydyfelin took advantage of this with a further two quick tries. First a superb break and offload from 2nd row Kevin Briggs put flanker Rhys Phillips in under the posts, before winger Jordan Rees again outpaced his opposite number and raced away for the try (29-0).

With Rhydyfelin beginning to run the ball from all over the pitch Garndiffaith grabbed what proved to be a consolation try as a long miss pass was gathered by the visitors and run over for the try from 20 yards out. There was just about time for one more try as Rhydyfelin drove a rolling maul from outside the 22m all the way to the line where Kyle Perry scored his second of the afternoon.

Half Time - Rhydyfelin 34 Garndiffaith 7

The second half began as the first ended with another score for the home side, a Hat trick try for winger Jordan Rees. Rhydyfelin rang the changes soon after and it was one of the replacements, Luke Studley who had an immediate effect scoring the next try for The Village after stealing a scrum against the head.

A couple of substitutions by the visitors resulted in passive scrummaging, but in truth the game was well beyond doubt. Straight from the restart Chris Phillips secured possession and the resultant phase of play spread the ball wide. Chris Tottle advanced up the field and supplied a pass to Ross Lucas for the try. The conversion by Josh Jones took the score to 51-7. 

Hooker Scott Pritchard scored the 9th try soon after before winger Mark Tyler showed some individual brilliance to set up Ross Lucas for his second of the afternoon. The 12th and final try came on the stroke of full time when Lucas rounded off his Hat trick with a show and go to run through the defence and under the posts. Josh Jones conversion brought an end to proceedings.

Full time - Rhydyfelin 70 Garndiffaith 7

Rhydyfelin advance to Round 2 of the plate, but next up they face a massive fixture away to fellow pace setters Nelson, next Saturday, in Division 1 East.