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Taff's Well Firsts earnt a Div 2 Cup victory 25-22 against Croesyceiliog RFC but were pushed hard for victory in another nail-biter at Maes Gwyn.

Taff started brightly, springing out the traps to attack Croesyceiliog's line. A promising opening attack came to nothing as poor handling saw the ball spill forward. In reality, both teams were nervy and lacked confidence; a symptom perhaps of both their starts to the season.

It was no surprise however that Taff's Well scored first, the hosts' early pressure earning a penalty in centre field, ten metres into their opponents' half. Outside half Hywel Chatham took the penalty, dissected the posts, and the hosts were ahead.

Croesyceiliog fired straight back, with a number of phases deep into Taff's Well half that eventually came to nothing as poor handling let them down. It was Taffs who then extended their lead, another period on the attack causing a penalty, duly despatched by Chatham. 6-0 to the hosts.

Again Croesy came back at their hosts, and had an opportunity of their own when Taffs' indiscretion yielded a penalty 10 metres into their own half. Croesyceiliog opted to kick for goal, but despite a sweet strike from the outside half, the ball drifted agonisingly wide. Their frustration was compounded soon after, when a moment of madness from their no. 7, striking a player on the floor, gave the referee no option but to produce a red card. Suddenly Croesy were down to 14 men.

Buoyed, it was Taffs who struck next, with the best move of the half. After a series of drives from a lineout, the ball was spun into open play, Chatham feeding centre Mathew Minty, who sold the defence a dummy before firing a long pass to the on-running full back Ryan Smith who cantered in to score. Chatham had no problem with the extras, 13-0 at half time.

Any thoughts of a Taff's Well procession were extinguished in the first five minutes of the second half. Croesyceiliog came out firing, a Taff's Well indiscretion giving away a penalty, smartly taken quickly and Croesy barged themselves over the try line. The conversion was missed, Taffs 13, Croesy 5. 

This try sparked served to spark the visitors, and immediately from kick off a frenzied attack from loose play saw the ball spread wide, a long run up the field by the Croesy wing, and smart handling put the centre over to score and shock the home crowd. Converted, from nowhere the 14 men were back in the game Taffs 13, Croesy 12.

Taffs were stunned and Croesy took full advantage, charging up the field and causing further indiscretion from the home side. They won a penalty, it was kicked, and suddenly the visitors were ahead, 13 - 15.

Taffs rallied though, and the extra man was showing across the field, particularly at scrum time. From a series of attacks, Croesy gave up a penalty, which Chatham failed to convert. The home side were unbowed however, and another Croesy indiscretion gave up a penalty. Kicked to the corner, and from the resultant line out Taff's gathered to drive and for hooker Matthew Desmier to get over for the score- Taffs 18, Croesy 15.

Taff's came again at their visitors and - after another dominant scrum - broke into open play. An intricate passing move between centres Minty and Jake Brookes saw the pair combine and Minty to cross for a try. Converted by Chatham, and the score was 25 - 15.

Still the brave 14 of Croesyceiliog would not lie down and they came back at Taff's Well. A number of indiscretions leading to penalties pushing the play up the field, for Croesy to cross the line again, with the try converted. 25-22.

With 5 minutes to play and the home crowd incredulous how close this game had become, Taffs steeled their nerves to hold on for a well-earned first victory of the season.

Rugby Round-up

Elsewhere, the U-14s played out a thrilling 24-24 draw in their Blues Cup tie with Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd, and the U-15s played well in defeat to Llantwit Fardre.

Taff's Well Women were disappointed when their planned league fixture away to Blackwood was postponed by their opponents late in the day.