Match Reports 2008/9
Llantrisant (3) v Tredegar (18)
November 1st 2008
Tredegar went to the top of division two with a 18-3 victory over previous league leaders Llantrisant at Cefn Mabley.
The game started at a furious pace with both sides attacking from the off, Llantrisant just edging the early exchanges with outside half Jon Williams controlling the Llan backs well, and flanker Gavin Groves prominent. Tredegar were also lively, the pace of Jamie Henthorne troubling his opposite number, and twice in the early moments of the game Tredegar could have crossed the try line, only for ill-discipline to cost them at the vital moment.
The scoring was opened in the 23rd minute when Tredegar outside half Darren Pearce kicked a penalty to open a three nil lead. With Williams marshalling his centres well, a break through the Tredegar midfield allowed Williams to level the scores through a penalty.
This score however sparked the Tredegar team into life. After being denied a certain try for an infringement, the Tredegar forwards kept the ball and ran through at least 13 phases of play before a barnstorming run by prop Ian Evans, dragging defenders with him, created an overlap allowing Daffyd James to cross for the game's first try shortly before half time. An excellent touch line conversion by Darren Pearce made the score 10-3, and Tredegar were unlucky not to go further ahead right on half time after a long kick through resulted in a defensive mistake by Llan full back Owen David, his Tredegar counterpart Rob Smith passing the ball off to James, who just missed out on a try.
Half Time Llantrisant 3 Tredegar 10
Whilst the first half was an even game, Tredegar dominated in the second. After conceding an early penalty right in front of the post which Williams missed, the Tredegar pack were totally on top, twice taking the ball against the head in scrums, but twice conceding penalties from the resulting play, Williams again missing the posts despite having the wind at his back.
With Pearce kicking well, a touch finder by the Tredegar signing from Cross Keys lead to another Llantrisant infringement, the outside half stepping up to convert the penalty putting Tredegar 13-3 ahead. With Williams missing another penalty, the confidence visibly drained from the Llantrisant ten, and with Joe Campbell and Ryan Thomas stopping the Llan pack as an attacking force, the marauding Tredegar pack dominated, making yard after yard through intelligent rugby.
Tredegar however always like to make it difficult for themselves, and when Ian Evans was yellow carded for killing the ball, Tredegar had 15 minutes to hold onto to victory. Winning another scrum against the head with just seven men lead to a neat touchline break by Damien Smith but an accidental offside infringement against denied the visitors a try.
With minutes to go Rob Smith ran the ball from his own 22 yard line, leading to lovely work down the touchline by Daffyd James who offloaded to Matthew Taylor to out pace the home side’s defense and make a 25 yard run for the touch down for Tredegar and make the game safe.
Commenting after the game Captain Paul Edwards said “I thought was a tremendous performance by the Tredegar team, it was a game that we prepared well for knowing it would be hard. The defense was outstanding and we were able keep them out and not concede any tries. It was a superb all round team performance which should give us confidence going into the rest of the season.”
Secretary Tony Lewis said “It was a really hard game, but a superb effort from the Tredegar players assured we came away with the victory and the points.
Tredegar are assured to be top of the table throughout
the month of November due to the Wales home internationals, but face Porthcawl
away in the third round of the Swalec cup on November 15th, before returning
the league action against Abergavenny at home on December 6th.