Fixture

Tylorstown RFC | 1st Team 33 - 11 Tonyrefail RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
29 October 2017 / Team News

Tylorstown v Tonyrefail Match Report

Tylorstown – 33

 

Tonyrefail – 11

 

Tylorstown moved to second in the table with this bonus point win over Tonyrefail. Both Rhondda teams provided the spectators with a fine spectacle of attacking rugby. Tylorstown were certainly the better all-round team and played expansive rugby but Tonyrefail’s backs kept the Tylorstown defence on their toes. To see both sets of backs play what is in front of them and have the confidence to attack ensured that both sets of supporters can be optimistic for the season.

 

Tylorstown had the edge up front with a strong scrummage which allowed the ball carriers in the pack to cause damage to Tonyrefail around the fringes. Props Ashley Thomas and Aiden O’Donaghue gave their opposite numbers a torrid afternoon. Hooker Lee Arundel was everywhere in the loose and made some telling tackles throughout the game.

 

Tonyrefail went into the lead with a penalty when Tylorstown transgressed at a ruck. Within minutes Tylorstown had a scrum near to the visitor’s try line. Player coach and Number 8 Dai Hefford, who played superbly throughout, picked up at the base of the scrum and gave a beautifully timed pass to young scrum half Dylan Lewis who squeezed over.

 

Both the home half backs put their stamp on this game and played with great maturity. Outside half Nathan Williams showed deft of hand continually to release runners. On one such occasion his pass led to a Tonyrefail player being yellow carded for a late tackle. Flanker Morgan John showed characteristic strength to capitalise on the numerical advantage and muscled over after a well won line out by Second Row Lukke Rees.

 

Buoyed with confidence, Tylorstown scored the pick of their tries. Lewis and Williams showed great awareness from a scrum on the home 22. Full back Chris Griffiths kept the move alive to feed wing Kieran Richards to sprint down the wing and was brought down on the Tonyrefail 22. Thomas and Second Row Robert Hemming made good yardage for Williams to pop the ball to Rees to score.

 

Tonyrefail responded well and for about 10 minutes at the end of the first half, they caused Tylorstown problems scoring a well deserved try, quickly followed by a penalty when Rees was yellow carded for allegedly coming in from the side. Lewis put the home team into half time 7 points in front with a penalty.

 

Morgan John started the second half impressively. Tonyrefail were unable to bring him down on a number of occasions in one passage of play which moved Tylorstown into the final quarter of the field. Again, Hefford was on hand to keep the ball in hand and offloaded to his back row partner and captain Chris Lloyd to score unopposed under the posts to give Tylorstown the bonus point. Lewis converted.

 

Wing Chris Davies was eager to get the ball in his hands and made a good run which was thwarted by the visitors who then set off on an attack to be stopped by a tremendous tackle by Arundel. Tylorstown tackled well to keep the dangerous Tonyrefail three quarters at bay.

 

The game ended with both young half backs adding to the scoreboard. Outstanding scrum half Lewis struck a well taken penalty to be followed by a touch down in the corner from the talented Williams.

 

Lewis was awarded Man of the Match for his efforts by match sponsors Wales and West Truck and Bus, who in conjunction with Volvo, provided a terrific atmosphere after the game.

 

Next week Tylorstown travel away to Old Penarthians.

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