| Caerphilly 30 - UWIC
18 (Caerphilly 4 tries - UWIC 2 tries) |
| Welsh National League Division 1 East |
| Half-time score: Caerphilly 8 - UWIC 15 |
| Date: Saturday 27th October 2007 |
| Kick-off time: 2:30pm |
| Referee: Mr. David Jones(Newport) |
| Attendance: 300 |
| UWIC Website: - http://www.uwicrfc.co.uk/ |
| Weather: Cloudy with light rain |
| Match Report by Phil Whitfield |
| There are just four points between top of the table Pontypool, and second place Caerphilly, following last Saturday's results. Pontypool retain poll position at the head of the Welsh National League Division One East table after their 35-13 win over Bargoed. Caerphilly are just four points adrift as they brushed aside UWIC to keep the pressure on the Gwent leaders.
But it wasn't a walk in the Virginia Park that secured Caerphilly a victory over the Cardiff students. The hosts trailed at the interval by 15 points to 8 and the visitors displayed a masterful lesson in tactical kicking and a highly skilful and well organised rolling maul. It took a gutsy second half performance by the green and whites with plenty of grit and determination to notch up a healthy 22 points and limiting UWIC to just a miserly three during the second period. A 40 meter penalty from the boot of UWIC fly half, Simon Humberstone gave his side an early start, catching Caerphilly in an offside position. Caerphilly replied well, and from a penalty created phase after phase, drive after drive and finally a scrum at close range. Skipper, John Griffiths fed scrum half, Alun Ford from the base for Ford to dive in at the corner. Ford went on to put in a very creditable performance. Caerphilly lock, Chris Payne was given his marching orders on 31 minutes by referee, David Jones judged to have brought down a rolling maul. A penalty for the offence gave UWIC a lineout. A set-piece move from the lineout allowed openside flanker, Guy Thompson a blind side pathway to the Caerphilly white wash. Humberstone converting. Only minutes later, Guy Thompson was diving over for his brace with a similar blind side run on the opposite side of the field. In a desperate measure for points on the Caerphilly score sheet, fly half, Rhys Edwards kicked a three point penalty before the half time whistle as UWIC infringed at the ruck. A stern half time talk boosted the hosts into action. Winger, Steffan Sankala raced in for a try on 43 minutes shortly followed by a second penalty by Edwards to give Caerphilly a 16-15 lead. Caerphilly kept their 16-15 point lead for the following 30 minutes. The hosts turned the screw during the latter stages with a sterling late effort. Replacement scrum half, Rob Phillips dived in under the posts from a 5 meter scrum giving Edwards the easiest of conversions. UWIC'S Humberstone slotted over an injury time penalty in the hope of a bonus point for being within seven points of Caerphilly's lead. But two minutes later it was all action at the other end of the pitch. A Caerphilly 5 meter scrum proved far too strong for the students. Both flankers loosened their binding to infringe at the scrum and a penalty try was awarded on 86 minutes. Edwards converting from in front of the posts. Caerphilly are at home again this Saturday and entertain Newport Saracens. Come along and get behind your local rugby team and join the green army of supporters. 2:30 PM kick-off. |
| Caerphilly Team | UWIC Team | |
| Nathan Gittings | 15 - Fullback | Matt McClean |
| Chris Thomas | 14 - Right-wing | Alan Awcock |
| Gareth Miles | 13 - Outside-centre | Matt Trowbridge |
| Ian Carter | 12 - Inside-centre | Tom Cheeseman |
| Steffan Sankala | 11 - Left-wing | Rhys Crane |
| Rhys Edwards | 10 - Outside-half | Simon Humberstone |
| Alan Ford | 9 - Scrum-half | Kyle Barrett |
| John Griffiths (Captain) | 8 - Number 8 | Leice Dyckhoff |
| Rhys Watkins | 7 - Openside-flanker | Guy Thompson |
| Richard Fields | 6 - Blindside-flanker | Justin Pakes |
| Anthony Meads | 5 - Second-row | Ed Blowers |
| Chris Payne | 4 - Second-row | Alex Jones (Captain) |
| Gareth Jones | 3 - Tighthead-prop | Rikki Stout |
| Anthony Meads | 2 - Hooker | Rhys Blumberg |
| Matthew Griffiths | 1 - Loosehead-prop | Jordan Allers |
| Rob Phillips | Replacement | Tom Brown |
| Dean Watkins | Replacement | Simon Tattersall |
| Gareth Davies | Replacement | Steffan Tariksa |
| Sam Feehan | Replacement | Morgan Thompson |
| Nick Keeble | Replacement | Tom Hancock |
| Caerphilly Scorers | UWIC Scorers | |
| Alun Ford, Steffan Sankala, Rob Phillips, Penalty Try | Tries | Guy Thompson (2) |
| Rhys Edwards (2) | Conversions | Simon Humberstone |
| Rhys Edwards (2) | Penalties | Simon Humberstone (2) |
| - | Drop-goals | - |
| Chris Payne | Yellow cards | Leice Dyckhoff |
| - | Red Cards | - |
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