Caerphilly "Got out of Jail Free" in this nail biter
at "Y Parc Dyffrun Pennar" this afternoon. Much of the match
was dominated by a vibrant Mountain Ash team fresh from their defeat
of Division two east forerunners Penallta last week. Indeed it was
the home side that held more than an edge in the first half as Caerphilly
failed to make any impression, battling to keep the home side at bay.
The notes of program recorded two wins for "The old Firm",
in two previous WRU cup encounters between these two sides. It should
maybe have been a third as Caerphilly held on at the death after Dean
Watkins had booted them into the lead in 72 minutes.
It took The Old Firm just four minutes for the home side to take the
lead. A penalty kick from the home side put them deep into the Caerphilly
corner. The resultant catch and drive produced a try for Number 8
Chris Edmunds as he crashed over with the weight of the home pack.
Matthew Parfitt stepped up and slotted the wind advantaged conversion.
Caerphilly were further handicapped on 22 minutes as second row Chris
Payne received ten minutes in the bin for failing to roll away during
a breakdown in one of Caerphilly limited attacks. The home side failed
to take advantage of their increased numbers, coming closest on 32minutes
as Payne was set to return to the field. Steeling a Caerphilly scrum
against the head, No.9 Meirion Thomas found space around the scrum.
Darting for the line he deftly released the ball. Freeing the ball
in the tackle flanker Scott Davies had the ball knocked out of his
hands by tackler Chris Thomas just feet from the try line.
The Home side didn't have to wait long however. Two minutes later
a well judged kick ahead put Chris Thomas under immense pressure,
chasing back to his own line the bobbling ball rested inches from
the try line. With three Mountain ash attackers bearing down on him,
under the posts, Thomas did well to hold off. Unfortunately, referee
Neil Howells adjudged that the ball just sprung out of the ruck for
Jonathan Locke to place some pressure on it, handing the home side
a 14-0 lead as Parfitt stepped up to add the conversion.
It didn't all go the home sides way as Caerphilly suddenly realised
they had a mountain to climb. In fact Caerphilly were unlucky not
to score on the stroke of half time. A Caerphilly attack firstly broke
down as they were heading for deep territory, but as Mountain Ash
threatened a counter attack the ball bobbled loose and into the path
of Steffan Sankala. Hacking the ball forward, he dribbled from the
22 to the try line. As the ball reached the try line, it took a 90
degree turn, off putting Sankala, who just knocked on to the relief
of the home supporters.
Deep into injury time Caerphilly finally attained their first points
Mountain Ash's hooker Craig Davies was adjudged to have deliberately
played the ball on the ground during a Caerphilly attack, awarding
the visitors a penalty kick in front of the posts. In keeping with
consistency, referee Howells reached for his card, after binning Payne
in a similar incident, and off trudged Davies. Up stepped Watkins
to give the visitors 3 points entering the second half.
Caerphilly just came out trumps in the second half. Starting against
14 was a definite bonus failing however on several occasions to trouble
the scorers. On 51 minutes, during another attack on the try line,
Caerphilly made good use of the unequal numbers, ignoring a kick at
the posts, they opted for a lineout. Having the lineout disrupted
eventually leading to the ball returning close to the line out on
the left. Recycling the ball came out to the centers and into the
hands of Lee Mullane, who cut the home sides defense in two, to cross
under the posts. Watkins stepped up to add the simple conversion,
and Caerphilly were within four points.
With the wind behind them Caerphilly were awarded another penalty
three minutes later, as the home side were guilty of holding on to
the ball on the floor, midway between the halfway and 22. Watkins
converted bringing the visitors within a point.
Watkins was unlucky not to put the visitors ahead on 70 minutes as
another penalty hit the uprights. From the rebound the home side were
unable to clear the ball and were eventually penalised for holding
onto the ball after the tackle. Watkins putting the easy kick over.
With eight minutes to go, the home side went into overdrive, attempting
to capitalise on every Caerphilly mistake, they came within inches
on the stroke of full time, giving away a penalty for holding on the
floor again with the try line millimeters away. To their credit The
Old Firm never gave up hope, the referee finally blowing in the third
minute of injury time during another attack at the visitors. A relieved
Caerphilly side leaving the pitch after an immense battle. Based on
this performance there is little to choose between the new leaders
of the second division and third place in the first.
|
