Fixture

Taff’s Well welcomed high-flying Cilfynydd to Maes Gwyn in a match which was always going to be a test for the home side as the visitors had only lost one match this season and that against league leaders Cambrian Welfare by a single point.

Cilfynydd hit the ground running and started the game looking every bit the side that stood second in the league and confidently went about their business as their pack dominated possession to enable their backs to get into the game quickly and look to go wide at every opportunity. Although looking dangerous, the visitors were frustrated by a resolute Taff’s Well defence who spent much of the first half keeping the tide at bay and making every metre hard-earned for Cilfynydd with scrum-half Ashley Bonetto in his oils going toe-to-toe with a pack very much on the front foot.

One of the pleasing facets of the Taff’s Well performance this year has been the set-pieces and again, the home eight managed to get the better in the scrummaging with tight-head prop Graham Harvey adding the necessary grunt to secure safe possession which perhaps was not always put to the best use as having to play from deep, Taff’s Well were guilty of some very aimless kicking which was gratefully received and returned with interested as the Cilfynydd backs looked increasingly dangerous with ball in hand.

Though under the cosh, the home defence was proving to be up to the task but an infringement in the shadow of the Taff’s Well posts enabled Cil’ to slot over a penalty to wake up Roger Watkins on the scoreboard with the visitors taking a well-deserved 3-0 lead. With the pressure back in the home 22, Cil’ were able to secure a scrum 10yds out and execute a move straight from the training manual which enabled a feed from No8 to scrum-half who in turn fed out wide for a walk-in try from the wing for a well-worked effort. The half ended with the home side starting to get back in the game and their efforts were rewarded with a kickable penalty which full-back Shaun Baggs just pushed wide to make the score 8-0 at half time and a worthy lead to boot.

                                Half-Time Score:  Taff’s Well 0 v 8 Cilfynydd

                                                        Second Half

Considering the possession and the territory which Cilfynydd had enjoyed, it was testament to a dogged Taff’s Well defensive that the visitors had been held to just a solitary try and a penalty but Captain Gareth Gibbs had a job on his hands if he was to turn this game around. Looking as if the half-time team-talk had hit home, the home side started with much more purpose and ambition and with the pack starting to edge things, the gauntlet had been well and truly thrown. With the pack in resurgent mood and hooker Matthew Desmier nailing his lineout jumpers, the contest was starting to turn in the hosts favour as Taff’s Well were able to orchestrate a meaningful incursion into the Cil’ 22 to produce some fine movement and a try for centre Mike Lindon in the corner to bring the difference to just 3 points as the difficult conversion went wide.

This was now an even contest with the Taff’s Well very much in the ascendancy but the home cause was about to suffer a serious setback as inspirational flanker Rhys Watkins was yellow-carded for a straight-arm tackle just as things were started to look good. With the one man deficit proving the difference, Cilfynydd were able to work the ball to centre Rhys King who finished off an excellent try which was duly converted to make the score 15-5 with an uphill task now on the cards for Taff’s Well. The pack continued to deliver with second-row Tommy Guy and flanker Ieuan Parsons making the presence felt in the lineouts but the Cil’ defence was dealing with the wider threat as the home side were ramping up and the game was to move to a pivotal point with two sending’s off as right-wing Gavin Close spotted a nasty indiscretion to take the law into his own hands and follow Cilfynydd the full-back to the dressing room; the wider significance being that Taff’s Well had been awarded a penalty in the Cil’ 22 but the decision was reversed and the danger was averted.

The visitors were able to compose themselves as the game edged towards full time and despite a gallant effort by Taff’s Well featuring a superb effort by the pack, Cilfynydd were able to close out the half for a hard-earned victory from a bruising contest.

                               Full Time Score:  Taff’s Well 5 – 15 Cilfynydd

The Verdict

Cilfynydd are very much a form side and they stated their intent straight from the kick-off as Taff’s struggled with the intensity but a never-say-die attitude in defence meant that the visitors were never going to have it all their own way. The first half saw the Cil’ pack dominate both possession and territory but they could only manage a solitary try for their efforts which very much kept the home side in the game. The second half was a different affair as the Taff’s Well eight rose magnificently to the challenge to get the better of a very good Cilfynydd pack with the set-pieces again looking solid.

You couldn’t fault the attitude of any of the Taff’s Well side as they refused to buckle under the pressure and fought all the way to the whistle in search of an improbable but not unachievable win given the superiority of the first half Cil’ performance. This was an old-fashioned arm-wrestle with Graham Harvey anchoring down the scrum, Matthew Desmier hitting his jumpers with some fine throwing to the back of the lineout and Tommy Guy and Ieuan Parsons not only securing their own ball, but getting someone important steals into the bargain.

The difference in the end was perhaps the Cilfynydd backs ability to contain the Taff’s Well threat out wide when it mattered most and ultimately the yellow card would have an impact not forgetting the sending offs as Cilfynydd seem to settle the quicker in response. Nevertheless, there was much to take out of the game for Taff’s Well as the lads showed a level of resilience that will serve them well for the remainder of the season typified by the efforts of scrum-half Ashley Bonetto who battled pugnaciously all the way through the game to take the Man-of-the-match accolade from the Taff’s Well faithful.

PS Couldn’t get to the game on Saturday so thanks to Terry Potter for supplying the info, looks like I’ve got some serious competition.

PPS Thanks as always to Chris Edwards (Gwilym’s Dad!) for the match-day photographs.

Dave Beese & Terry Potter

Match Gallery:  Taff's Well 1st XV v Cilfynydd 1st XV

Match Report:  Taff's Well Youth XV 19 v 5 Cilfynydd Youth XV