Fixture

Well three weeks have elapsed since the fateful game at Builth and after such a demoralising result everyone’s first thought was well how will we react and get over that.

Well it wasn’t perfect as a more than competent Swansea Uplands side registered a 33-13  home victory but  there was enough fight, effort and determination in today’s performance to suggest that we can put that day behind us and move on.

The opening exchanges were reminiscent of a typical Division one bruising battle and in the shadows of what is easily the best clubhouse facility in West Wales the only scores in the first 15 minutes of combat were two penalties expertly converted by the home full back and at 6 – 0 this was anyone’s game.

The home side were intent on getting forward supremacy though, which they were achieving and some of their back line off loads were looking like they could cut loose at any time. Good rearguard action in the tight from Josh Key in particular was giving us some playable ball and a Hanno Dirksen cross kick could quite easily have put strong running wing Ritchie Beynon in an attacking position before the move was snuffed out by the alert home defence.

As can be the way sometimes though our best efforts were cruelly halted as an Uplands interception try and conversion put us 13 points adrift and a quick penalty added to the suffering and at 16 – 0 things were looking ominously bad. A rally was needed and a penalty from No 10 Ben Jenkins cut the deficit and signalled a flurry of positive play from the visitors.
Josh Key a beacon of positivity throughout the game took a short pass and bullocked his way through a tight defence, Jack Rodon was on hand to help and Josh Jarrett in finest Exocet mode looked as if he would make the line. Although thwarted the referee had identified something was amiss and after some deliberation awarded a penalty try to put the visitors in a much more encouraging position 16-10 at the turn around.

The second half soon brought further pressure from Birch and a sustained assault on the home line was unlucky not to yield more than another penalty from Jenkins 16 – 13.  A succession of penalties and forward drives then  almost brought  scores for Jack Rodon and Chris Gorvett which if successful may well have changed the outcome of the game.

The home defence though was resolute and with the assistance of fresh legs were not only able to clear their lines but with driving runs from the new back row and a Dan Cole look alike prop they were soon causing havoc in the Birch defence. With their tight scrum supremacy now being aided by breakdown dominance and sprightly back play it was only a matter of time before the home pressure was likely to result in points.

A burst up field and some smart handling brought a deserved home try 21-13, their metronome kicker adding the conversion points 23-13 followed by a further penalty 26 -13. With victory now being scented the home side were swarming towards our line and only desperate defence from Steff Gibson saved the day. The respite was temporary though and a neat handling move soon brought the final score of the day, well converted again and a final tally of 33 points to 13 for the home side.

Not the result we would have wished for but we are back in the saddle after the Builth set back and can now look forward to a local Derby visit to the Vardre next Saturday.

Some good individual performances today to bring consideration for man of the match.

Ritchie Beynon a resolute and forceful display with the added benefit of some howitzer relief kicking from hand .

Rob John showing up well in defence and making the most of his limited opportunities in attack.

Josh Key a pillar of strength behind a retreating scrum with a knack of turning poor ball in to go forward prospects.

The award goes to JOSH KEY

The Vardre next week no shortage of incentive to beat our neighbours and rivals. See you there