Fixture

Taffs Well RFC | 1st Team 42 - 29 Heol y Cyw RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
06 January 2019 / Team News

Impressive Bonus Point Win Opens the New Year as Taff’s Well Beat Heol-Y-Cyw 42 - 29

The last time these two sides met in the WRU Cup just ten weeks ago; an under-strength Taff’s Well side tamely succumbed to a 50-0 defeat which meant that today’s visitors could not be criticised if they were to be anything less than confident of taking the league points away with them – but they hadn’t bargained for a fired-up Taff’s Well side which were not about to give Heol-Y-Cyw the opportunity of a treble-win result for the season.

Taff's Well Slow out of the Blocks

The day was perfect for running rugby and it would be Heol Y Cyw who would make the first statement with a quickly-tapped penalty from 10m out which led to led to a charge for the line but a timely interception managed to keep the scoreboard out of business. The visitors were to not to be denied though as a 15m lineout enabled outside-half Mark Bennett to scythe through and score the opening try of the contest but he was unable to convert his own effort. There was a further scare as a chip over the top caused confusion in the Taff’s Well ranks but full-back Ronan Barrat managed to diffuse the situation by minoring the ball to give the visitors the feed at a 5m attacking scrum. With the situation starting to look ominous, a spot of miss-handling meant that the home line was saved from a further breach.

Double Riposte

Just as it seemed the visitors were starting to dominate proceedings, a clever chip from outside-half Matthew Hurley saw it sit up nicely behind the covering winger and fall into the grateful hands of left wing Ryan Smith chasing hard who scampered over from 25m out which Hurley converted to put the home side into the lead. Things were about to get better as No.8 Max Watkins broke from a nudging scrum to feed fullback Barrett in support who threw the dummy before putting flanker and skipper Justin Jones in for a lovely try which was again converted by Hurley.

Pendulum Swings

It was now Taff’s Well who were starting to look comfortable but the game would swing again as the home side conspired to put themselves under all sorts of pressure with a mixture of poor kicking and slack tackling which enabled hooker Jordan Hawkins to burst over to reduce the deficit to 14-12. Taff’s Well were back on the attack with the back row of new University of South Wales college recruit Ben Wood from Gloucester, No.8 Watkins and skipper Jones looking an accomplished unit. Through a succession of rucks, the ball was recycled only for it to be knocked on as the line was being neared but eagle-eyed referee Matthew Burford had spotted an offside which dead-eyed-dick Hurley punished with a successful penalty shot.

Lost Opportunities

Some great movement saw the ball reach right-wing Christian Nicholas who busted the visitor's defence to put full-back Barrett hurtling towards the line only for a knock-end to end the incursion with the try-line begging. Another Barrett break saw him run out of support in the shadows of the posts which meant he was held up and the ball turned over for a defensive scrum. This was now all Taff’s Well and the front row of props Deri Vaughan and Lloyd James together with hooker Matthew Desmier were providing the anchor for a scrum which has performed well all season. From an attacking surge at an attacking scrum, the home side were awarded a penalty with seconds to go before half-time.

With the posts in sight and Hurley in superlatively kicking form, there was a mixed reaction as the decision was taken to opt for a scrum. As some lovely deceptive running from the backline carved the opening and with an overlap conjured up – the scoring pass was a good foot forward which sent another certain try down the swanny. As the whistle to swop ends sounded, Taff’s Well were left to rue several scoring chances which would have put them firmly in the driving seat although a 17-12 scoreline was good reward for an industrious first half in which the pack had stood up to a very big Heol Y Cyw eight.

Half Time Score:  Taff’s Well 17 v 12 Heol Y Cyw


Second Half

The second half started as the first had ended with Taff’s Well looking comfortable although another dropped pass was to thwart another foray into the visitors half before the pressure eventually told with another Hurley penalty which was quickly followed by another effort to take the score to a more comfortable looking 23-12. The bad news was that flanker and previous man-of-the-matches Ben Wood who has proved to be a great signing in the absence of injured back-rowers players Connor Barrett, Rhys Green and club skipper Lewis Edwards – would depart the field with an ankle injury which saw man-for-all-seasons Ashley Bonetto once again lace his boots. Centres Matthew Wright and Martin Detorres had been looking good for the cause with Wright solid in defence and Detorres providing the polish in attack whilst wingers Smith and Nicholas were hungry for work.

Was it or wasn’t It?

As scrum-half Craig Field rifled out a pass from an attacking 5m scrum, prop-come-centre Deri Vaughan looked up to survey the covering defence and send out a lovely miss-pass which enabled No.8 Watkins to squeeze in at the corner for what looked like a great try but referee Burford was unsighted with one eye on what looked like a nasty injury to centre Matthew Wright and he sympathetically had no option but to bring play back for a Taff’s Well attacking 5m scrum. Destiny finally had it say as another solid scrum saw Hurley burst his marker and barge over for a try which he converted which was to put the home side in a rather commanding position at 30-12. Coach Rhys Watkins started to ring the changes which saw Vaughan and Wright off after their good efforts and prop Graham Harvey with second-row Daryl Mota entering the fray with skipper Jones moving to the centre.

Turning up the Gears

This was now really starting to go to plan in a game which saw the second-row pairing of Ben Atkin and the ever-dependable Jon Barry never yielding to their sizeable counterparts. More good possession saw the ball shifted left then right through the hands to see full-back Barrett in the line to step back inside and scorch to the line for another impressive crossing. 35-12 and well in command – what could possibly go wrong? Well – for a start, Heol Y Cyw were not in on the plan and had no intention of folding. Completely against the run of play, a smart chip over the top saw right-wing Lewis Gibbs gather and cross wide out which was quickly followed by more slack tacking to allow prop Dewi Parish to score after a good build-up. 35-24 and game on.

More Tit-for-Tat Tries

With Craig Field done following his solid shift, it was good to see Gwilym Edwards back after his injury troubles and it wasn’t long before he had the opportunity to play a part in the proceedings as he fed Hurley following a succession of forward momentum rucks to see him cross for his second try and fourth conversion to bag a personal match tally of 27 points. But it would be the visitors who would have the last say as a succession of quick tap penalties saw outstanding flanker Connor Law cross to give the visitors respectability including a bonus point. Well done to both sides and to referee Matthew Burford for providing an entertaining encounter which saw 71 points scored and a welcome win for a Taff’s Well side that has fallen agonisingly short of crossing the finishing line over the past few weeks.

Final Score:  Taff’s Well 42 v 29 Heol Y Cyw


The Verdict

January is set to be such an important month for Taff’s Well as the dog-fight develops for Div.2 status. The frustration has been palpable with so many key injuries from the start of the season and so many good performances but very little to show for it. Heol Y Cyw would have had reason to be confident of taking something out of this game given the cup drubbing and the way they started the game but the lads quickly got to grips with conceding the first try and set about coping with the physicality of a big pack.

The set pieces went well with a nick or two at the lineout and the more nimble Taff’s Well pack ensured that the rucks were contested and quality possession won. Many scoring opportunities were created which on another day would have produced another 20+ points in the first half alone but the backs looked comfortable and finished off some nice tries. Coach Rhys Watkins will be delighted by the start to the New Year but perhaps a little disappointed with the conceding of three late tries when the game looked done and dusted, giving Heol Y Cyw a try-count bonus point.

There were good performances all over the field which would take some time to mention so I’ll skip that save to say that outside-half Matthew Hurley made a huge contribution to the game with his 27 point haul together with impressive man-of-the-match Ben Atkin. Vital games throughout January, but this was the start that was needed and impressively attained.

Match Day Photos: Press Here

Next week’s game:  Abercynon v Taff’s Well


Taff’s Well Women 17 v 7 Morriston

Great result for the girls today as they beat second-placed Morriston to join them on level points behind leaders Deri. Tries from Kirsten Field, Gemma Williams and Kayleigh Cushing plus a conversion from Jade Edwards saw Taff's Well home in a very physical contest with impressive performances from joint women-of-the-match flanker Shauna Bowman-Rees and centre Catrin Davies.


Dave Beese mail davecbwales@gmail.com 

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