THE visitors to the Athletic Field at Cowbridge RFC on Saturday, 18th November were Taffs Well. Both teams needed the win after a run of losses.
The pitch was wet in certain areas after the early morning rain, but the game was given the go ahead after an inspection. Cowbridge started brightly with some excellent forward drives and substitute flanker Ben Jones, on for the unfortunate Harry Dowell-Bennett, who was injured in the opening five minutes, popped a sumptuous pass to second row Jack Forsyth to crash through from seven metres out. Outside half Rhidian Morris added the extras.
There was a funny moment as a Cowbridge kick to touch landed in front of coach Gerwyn Jones – splattering him with mud! As Cowbridge pressed, a penalty for offside widened the half-time score to 10–0.
Into the second half and a further penalty for Morris was answered by Taffs Well after 10 minutes, making the score 13-3. Taffs Well were coming back into it, their No. 8 disrupting Cowbridge’s lineout possession and their centres running hard. Indeed, at the midpoint it took a great tackle from full-back Charlie Locke to stop their No. 12 breaching the defence.
With prop Craig Boxalll and hooker (now flanker) Tom Evans thundering into tackles it took a mighty defensive effort from the squad to keep Taffs Well at bay. With nerves increasing, the game entered the final moments and as Morris tried a drop goal, it was charged down but Morris scooped the ball up and broke 25 metres towards the Taffs Well line before being tackled. But Taffs Well had strayed off side and Morris’s penalty brought a final score of 16-3.
It was not pretty – captain Adam Dix described the game as scrappy but his players did what was needed to get the win. Defence was excellent from the whole team. Mention should be made of the second rows Jack Forsyth and Marc Herbert, who were exceptional and there was a promising debut from prop Charlie Phillips. There is plenty to work on before the next games; Llantrisant away on 25th November and Treharris at home on 2nd December.
The Youth travelled to Cardiff to take on Fairwater and came up just short in a hard-fought game.
Finally, thanks go to Alison, Jess, Sian, Jacquie, Sonia and Liz P for their efforts decorating the club making it look so festive.
RV/RK
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