Report Mountain Ash 27 September

On a super sunny Saturday afternoon and in a break from league fixtures Penallta 2nds entertained Mountain Ash 2nds in a so called "friendly" at Maesycymmer. The game was a credit to both sides and to second team rugby in general, as the crowd were treated to a 12 try bonanza and a final score that resembled something from the Southern hemisphere's Super 14 competition.

Mountain Ash with a large physical pack dominated the first 10 minutes of the game and put the Penallta defence under sustained pressure, crossing the Penallta try line on two occassions only to be held up by some good defensive work by the Penallta forwards. After weathering this early storm, Penallta were able to show exactly what their game is all about. With veteran centre Steve Richards leading the backline - Penallta started to move the ball about the field, and some slick inter passing between Richards and young centre Ross Morgan opened up the Mount defence for wing Dafydd Morton to score out on the right (12mins), Gafyn Hughes being successful with the conversion.

This score seemed to wake up the Penallta side and they began to take control of the game, with both forwards and backs looking to keep the ball alive and play an expansive game. Richards and Morgan in the centre gave their opposite numbers a torrid time in both attack and defence and again combined with fullback Steve Smith to send young wing Gareth Edwards in under the posts (20mins), Hughes again converting. A couple of wrong options in attack prevented any further scoring until the 37th minute, when after several forward drives, impressive scrum half Gareth Watkins fed the Penallta back line and following a thrust into the Mount 22 - Watkins was on hand to take the final pass and sprint between the uprights. From the resulting kick off Penallta were awarded a scrum on the halfway line, solid work by Dean Davies and Mark Palmer in the front row gave Watkins time to move the ball right feeding wing Morton who sprinted 30 metres before throwing an excellent inside pass to No 8 Keirion Mahoney who scored under the posts (37 mins).

Penallta were not finished and two minutes later after stealing the ball from Mount inside the Penallta 22 a move involving at least half a dozen players saw Gareth Edwards cross for his second. With Hughes kicking two of the three tries Penallta led 33 - 0. Mountain Ash however refused to lay down and scored a try in first half injury time, which they duly converted.

Half Time 33 - 7

Penallta made a number of changes at half time after Mount lost one of their front row and were forced to ask for uncontested scrums. Mike Williams, Bobby Evans, Rhion Hollister, and Dai Carter came into the pack, and Carter had an immediate impact when after a Penallta forward drive he stole the ball out of the hands of fellow second row James Tucker as they crashed over the line (47 mins), Hughes converted and Penallta looked in total control. On 51 minutes and under pressure in their own 22 the Penallta forwards were able to turn the ball over and quickly move the ball wide, Micky Williams who as the rugby brain of a 25 year old, but the legs of 45 year old made a break, drew the Mount defence and fed a lovely timed pass to centre Ross Morgan who showed an excellent turn of speed to run in a try from 70 metre out, Hughes again converting.

Penallta then made a number of further changes with Dean Acreman, Mathew Jackson, and Alan Radcliffe given a run out, in an attempt to kill off the Mountain Ash challenge. However to their total credit Mount hit back, they tightened up their forward game and began to take control forcing Penallta back on the defensive. This resulted in a well worked try in the right corner after a powerful forward drive (55 mins), which was converted and for the next 20 minutes had much more of the game than Penallta. Their next score came on 65 minutes, again after some excellent tactical kicking they were awarded a line out 5 metres out from the Penallta try line. An excellent catch and drive saw their impressive loose head prop Dale "The Flying Pig" Roberts crash over. Yes that's right! Penallta's very own "Flying Pig" whose pre match warm up usually consists of 2 steak bakes, 4 bags smokey bacon crisps, 2 mars bars and Diet kebab from Chickenland, was playing for Mount, having answered their call for a prop to assist them at the start of the match. Roberts was superb throughout and was presented with a Mount jersey at the end of the game.

WIth the try duly converted, the score was now 47 - 21 to Penallta, but the hot weather and tired legs then began to take the pace out of the game as both sides continued to try and stamp their mark on the remainder of the game. As the game neared its conclusion Penallta scored their 8th and final try, again attacking from deep the ball was passed through half a dozen hands before flanker Scott Horton went in under the posts (78 mins) - Hughes converting. Horton was immense throughout the game, his defence around the set piece was "awesome" and he proved with his try that he is also very capable in attack. It was Mount who had the last word immediately from the kick off they retained the ball and some poor Penallta defence saw them race in from 30 metres out to score their fourth converted try to make the final score 54 - 28 to Penallta, with the second half honours shared at 21 all.

As mentioned previously a very entertaining game and credit must go to both sides, coaches, and supporters. There were strong performances from a number of Penallta players, and it must only be a matter of time before the first team selectors come knocking on the door.

NEXT WEEK - Penallta 2nds are home again at Maesycymmer in a league fixture against Abercynon and the Coaches are looking for a strong turn out at this weeks training sessions, with large numbers available for selection people who are not training may well be disappointed. Three wins out of three, the "F" troop are on the march again.