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22 September 2017 / Club News

Rhydyfelin v Skewen 9/9/17

SKEWEN V RHYDYFELIN

On Saturday the 9th September Skewen travelled to Rhydyfelin, a team recently promoted into the Championship and Silver Ball winners.

Both teams seemed evenly matched in the opening encounters but Skewen were able to take the lead on the 12th minute. Being awarded a penalty on the halfway line and with the wind at their backs the decision to kick to touch proved to be the right option. Clean ball from the lineout was quickly fed to Fly half Anthony Busselli who dragging the defence to the open side fed winger Mathew Billet on the inside for him to race over for a try converted by Anthony Billet. Score Skewen 7 Rhydyfelin 0.

Shortly after, following one of the few excursions into the Skewen half, Rhydyfelin were awarded a penalty which was converted to make Score Skewen 7 Rhydyfelin 3

This was to be the only other score of the half which was not a true reflection of the play. Skewen had by far the majority of the possession and territory and whereas both sides missed penalty attempts Skewen managed to cross the Rhydfelin line on two occasions and were close on several others. Unfortunately none were given. Half time Score Skewen 7 Rhydfelin 3.

With the strong wind now at their backs Rhydyfelin came out with a vengeance after half time. Within 5 minutes they had scored their first try. Good aggressive forward running saw Skewen scramble on their 22. Quick ball and good back play saw the blindside wing coming in on aangle to score a try which was converted. Score Skewen 7 Rhydyfelin 10.

Rhydyfelin increased their lead on the 25th minute when a missed touch kick allowed Rhydyfelin possession which they moved wide to the open side wing who breaking tackles was able to score a try which was again converted. Score Skewen 7 Rhydyfelin 17.

Facing a strong wind Skewen found it difficult to clear their 22. One such attempt to kick up field was penalised when the chaser was deemed to be a mile offside. The resulting penalty kick at goal increased Rhydyfelin lead .Score Skewen 7 Rhydfelin 20.

After facing extreme pressure for 30 minutes of the second half Skewen showed good character to attempt to salvage points from the game. Several good attacking moves were foiled by a strong Rhydyfelin defence. However in the 35thminute Skewen scored an excellent try when replacement outside half Adam Rowlands took the ball inside his own half and ghosted through the Rhydyfelin defence to feed Mathew Billet on his inside. Mathew was able to draw the defence before passing to his fellow winger Gareth Morris who raced in for a try in the corner. The conversion into a strong wind narrowly missed.

With time running out Skewen threw everything into attack and in the final minutes where able to cross for a try which initially was given by the referee but was adjudged to be in touch (to be honest by about a yard)

 

 

Even with the last play of the game Skewen were attacking when they were awarded a penalty which would have given them a bonus point. The attempt into a strong headwind just shaved the wrong side of the post to make the final score Skewen 12 Rhydfelin 20.

In all a very disappointing result. It was not a game won by Rhydyfelin in the second half but a game lost by Skewen in the first. Three disallowed tries, a number of close efforts which were not capitalised on and an inability to clear out of defence into a strong headwind in the second half gave Rhydyfelin the impetus to take the game to us. The conditions in the second half favoured the team with a boot that could gain territory and in their full back Rhydyfelin certainly had that, forcing Skewen to spend long periods defending in and around their 22.

The positives were that Skewen showed good structure amongst the backs who cleverly moved the ball, a solid scrummage and a never say die attitude when it appeared the game was out of reach in the last 10 minutes which almost snuck a result against a strong team on their home pitch.

Skewen Team V Rhydyfelin 

15 Adam Rowlands (replaced by Jaimie Sturgess)

14 Gareth Morris 

13 Tom Kingdom

12 Andrew Collins Capt. (replaced by Mathew Billet)

11Mathew Billet (replaced by Luke Hughes)

10 Anthony Busselli (Replaced by Adam Rowlands) 

9 Jamie Kirkhouse

8. Dai Morgan

7. Richard Davies

6 Aled Mogford (replaced by Jo Davies)

5 Reece Jenkins (replaced by Aled Mogford)  

Ollie Thompson  

3 Johnny Gethin (replaced by Mark Jones)

2 Lucas Edwards (replaced by Rhodri Hughes)

1 Liam Grice (replaced by Johnny Gethin)

 

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