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RHIGOS 12 pts PORTHCAWL 15pts

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In their first game for 4 weeks, after being let down by first Blaengarw and then Hirwaun, and after getting a bye in the Swalec Bowl, Rhigos played host to Porthcawl on a dry and windy Saturday afternoon.

Yet again unable to field the strongest side, Rhigos did at least have 18 players and substitutes for the second time this season. The line up was: R Fridge Williams, D Dudley, R Smith (Capt), M Jones, J Lovett,  M Lovett, J Smith, Dan Twin Williams, S Simons, L Williams, K Hinks, R Shaggy Williams, J Lewis, A Edwards, D Davies. Subs: David Twin Williams, A Lewis, S Davies.

Porthcawl always a strong well organised side started well and fly half Aled Davies kicked a well struck 3 points after a series of errors and fumbles in defense led to a penalty against the home team. Rhigos quickly struck back when strong running from Jon Smith and then Luke Williams saw Aled Edwards pulled down 5 yards short of a score. In the resultant ruck Porthcawl prop Jeremy Ironside was yellow carded. Richard Smith wisely asked for a scrum which was driven over to Dan twin record the first try of the game just a little too far out for Luke to convert.

Back came Porthcawl another badly received kick off by Rhigos saw the home side concede another penalty that Aled Davies converted. This seemed too sting Rhigos into a series of strong attacks that ended with a fine break by Luke from the fifth or sixth phase taken on by Fridge and ended by a good tackle which pulled Dwayne down just short of the line. Porthcawl cleared to touch and from a well taken lineout Shaun Simons fed Luke who cut Porthcawl with a searing inside break that saw him score under the posts. He converted his own kick so that with barely 20 minutes gone Rhigos led 12 points to 6 and were looking good value for their lead.

A strong lineout and excellent driving work at forward was enabling Luke to release Shaggy and James well. The game seemed to be developing in the same way as the previous 3 league fixtures. However Porthcawl were made of sterner stuff than previous opponents Banwen, Hirwaun and SW Police. They finished the half well when Aled Davies kicked his third penalty just before half time. Rhigos 12 Porthcawl 9.

For the home side the second half was a major disappointment and their lack of game time in the previous 3 weeks began to show up. There was a series of unforced errors which led to frustration. The more senior players in the side failed to get a grip on the game and Porthcawl doggedly just kept pressurising everywhere. It was not pretty but it was effective and it choked Rhigos.

The excellent boot of Aled Davies did the rest and he kicked 2 further penalties to edge Porthcawl in front. Rhigos attacked furiously. When from their best attack which ended right under the Porthcawl posts just 2 yards short of the line the referee was slow to penalise Porthcawl for not rolling away after the tackle, unfortunately Jonny Smith took the law into his own hands and got yellowed.

Still Rhigos fought back and for the last 3 minutes of the game the crowd were kept on their toes when a series of 18 phases failed to secure a Rhigos score and the game was finally lost.

Even though the same old weaknesses were apparent, too many infringements at the breakdown, too much yapping in the forwards which Ian put down to lack of games in the past 3 weeks  there were good points to build on. Yet again the line was intact with a good defense keeping Porthcawl from scoring a try. The lineout was very capable and the driving rolling mauls of a high order. Luke Williams and Jon Smith had striong individual performances but it was a game that Rhigos lost rather than Porthcawl won.

The next 2 weeks will prove a difficult test for the Axemen with Ogmore Vale away in the League followed by Pontyclun Away in the Swalec Bowl.

SOUTH WALES POLICE 3pts RHIGOS 32pts

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Game 4 in Division 5 South Central and we are to play SWP away at Waterton Cross always a tricky game to call because their backs are usually quick and strong and we never seem to have enough players available to travel on the day.

By one o clock things looked iffy yet again. The list of players unavailable was longer than those in the club.Eventually we got away with just 16 players:

Richard Williams, Dwayne Dudley, Richard Smith(Capt), Mike Lovett, Mark Jones, Jon Smith Dan Williams, Lee Morgan, Shaun Simons, Luke Williams, Aled Edwards, Ryan Williams, David Price Adrian Lewis, Dicky Davies and Nathan Davies. Additionally Nathan Lewis and Aled Boomin nearly brought their kit.

Arrived at Waterton Cross late as usual only to find SWP were struggling themselves to put a side together so we did not feel so bad. Indeed the first five minutes of the game saw us put lots of pressure on the SWP only to concede a string of penalties that pushed us back into our own half time and time again. The scrummage was beginning to look steady and after a series of strong runs by Jon Smith, Dan and Luke took play within 5 metres of SWP line the scrum took over and we drove them over their line for Dan Twin to secure a try that Luke could not convert.

We now scored the best try of the game when the back row drove wide down the right. We won quick ball and the ball moved left across the back line skilfully for David Price and Adrian Lewis to combine cleverly up the left touchline and a fine off load in the tackle put Shaggy in for an excellent score that Luke turned into 7 points with a fine conversion.

Luke and Shaun continued to run the game well with long probing kicks into the corner as we set up good field position only for dogged defense from SWP to keep us out on numerous occasions. The pressure told though and from another strong scrummage Dan Twin scored his second try and Luke converted for 17 points to nil lead that SWP cut to 17-3 with a penalty just before half time.

Unlike last Saturday when we lost out way a bit in the second half this week we kept up good standards with backs moving the ball wide at times with Shaggy and Dai Price showing neat touches on the ball and the back row running strong infield. From one of these drives SWP were penalised at the breakdown and Luke converted to a simple 3 points.

The front five with Dwayne Dudley and Mike Lovett were providing a good platform and the Bonus point try had to come. It was a beauty. Shaun broke right from a solid scrum and sent Eggy away. He stood the winger up then ran outside him to score a fine try in the corner just a shade too far out for Luke to convert.

Late in the game the forwards combined well for Goofy to score a well earned try for his solid work all through the game. Luke converted and it was game over. Another bonus point win on the road and a solid all round performance from the whole team. Luke Williams and David Price have helped give the team another dimension this season.

Ian was well chuffed with the performance and after the match urged the players to make every effort to come training on Mondays and Wednesdays because we nearly are a good side. We need more numbers to compete for places and cover those necessary absences from injuries work and family commitments. But we have to say the fans love it.

Rhigos 31 Cwmgwrach 11

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Game 3 in season 2012 and we are at home to Cwmgwrach. A real local derby for many former Rhigos players and coaches and also for many current players who have been competing for Rhigos against the Witches since they were under 8.

The games are usually hard fought close run affairs with just a single, often controvertial, score separating the 2 sides. So Saturday’s bonus point win was a really big result for us.

The game started at a cracking pace with strong running from Rhigos back row Jon Smith, Dan Twin and James Lewis took play into Cwmgwrach’s 22 forcing the penalty that Big Louie slotted over. Two minutes later Jon Smith stole away from an over cooked Cwmgwrach lineout to surge through first their back row then their back line for a relly fine try under the posts that Big Lou converted.

Rhigos proceeded to dominate the first quarter of the game but indiscipline cost them field position time after time so it came something of a relief that Cwmgwrach collapsed a 5 metre that was being driven back strongly by our pack for referee Chris Evans of Crynant to award a penalty try that again was improved by Big Lou.

The game got a bit scruffy and the wet ball and heavy field proved too much for both teams as did the referee who, on his guard because of the fact that this was a big local derby, blew early and often much to the frustration of the sizeable crowd that had turned up despite the weather.

However Rhigos did manage one final excellent patch of play which sawbacks and forwards combining well for Dwayne Dudley to dance and weave his way to the line and put Rhydian Williams over in the corner only to see the Farmer trip over a daisy and spill the ball. Still he was wearing his wellies because he had forgotten his boots.

In the second half Rhigos bad patch continued and they failed to gain any momentum the scrum and lineout was not so dominant as they had been last week against Banwen. Cwmgwrach began to play with more conviction and were rewarded when John Mcphail dived over following a series of seven or eight phases in the Rhigos red zone. They quickly followed up with a penalty when Rhigos offended at the side of a ruck beforethe Rhigos pack finally got its act together. First they worked their way patiently down field forcing a scrum on the 5 metre line which they wheeled effectively to send Dan Twin in for a well deserved try that again Louie converted.

We battled hard for the fourth try and the bonus point and after a series of penalties under
Cwmgwrach’s posts slick handling from half back Shaun Simons sent Ryan Williams in at the corner for a well worked try that Lou converted from the touchline with the last kick of the match.

After the match Ian said it was scruffy stop start rugby and we were not at our best but we will take the 5 points quite happily and look forward to South Wales Police next Saturday with confidence.

Banwen 6 Rhigos 34

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Game 2 of the 2011-12 season saw us in action in Banwen RFC home of the legend Mark Harris and the even bigger stars Clive and Mick Harris. All from Moorlands – how could one small village have thrown up such giants. Trebanos – never heard of it.

As usual team was selected in the lounge at 1.30 p.m. Just before kick off and only one change was made in the car going to the game when Adrian Lewis bad knees took him out of the second row and on to the bench. Just after kick off the last change (positional) was made to finalise the side as:

1. Richard Williams 2. Richard Smith (Capt) 3. Rhydian Williams 4. Mike Lovett 5. Simon Grindle 6. James Lewis 7. John Smith 8. Dan Williams 9. Shaun Simons 10. A N Other Williams 11. Huw Harry George 12. Ryan Williams 13. Lloyd Bryant 14. Kyle Hinks 15. Dickie Davies 16. Adrian Lewis 17. Leeroy Morgan

In the absence of coach Ian Smith side lined with a seriously heavy dose of flu Sponge man Clive Harris took charge of shouting at people from the touch line ably assisted by Bottle Boy Dai Cowboy James. We played up the hill in the first half and after a couple of scrums to allow the controvertial selections in the front five to work out what they were supposed to be doing and Richard Smith to remember to strike for the ball things settled down. The pack began to roll Banwen about in driving mauls. But it was the home side that took the lead after offside in midfield for the young Banwen scrum half to convert a well struck penalty. Rhigos countered almost immediately and after strong running by Jon Smith Rhigos were awarded a penalty which was tapped quickly and Shaun Simons sent Rhydian the farm crashing over too far out for Shaun to convert. Rhigos were soon back pressurising Banwen in their Red Zone and scored an excellent try along the back line when half backs and centres put Dickie Davies over in the corner for a very good team try. Again Shaun could not convert in the strong blustery wind. Thankfully the torrential rain just prior to kick off slackened off, changed to drizzlwe and finally almost unbelievably sunshine. Linesman Geraint Jenkins threw away his umbrella and picked up his flag instead. The sunshine revitalised Banwen who ended the half pressing hard in the Rhigos 22 to win a penalty that they deserved to convert for a half time score of 10 points to 6.

Playing down the slope in the second half and with the weather improving Rhigos gradually and steadily turned up the pressure on the home team and following a series of drives into the bottom left hand corner James Lewis drove through to score a try that this time Shaun converted for a 7 pointer. There was still 20 minutes left for Rhigos to push for the bonus point and we were finally rewarded from another pressure situation the halfbacks combined slickly to put Huw Harry in for his first try since he was a lad. 2 more tries quickly followed, the first an excellent move involving centres Lloyd and Ryan and full back Dickie who put Adrian Lewis in at the corner and the second a fine individual effort by new fly half Louie Williams who ran through four would be tacklers in a fifty yard surge for the line. It was very satisfying to be able to report back to coaches Ian amd Mark and head honcho Merlyn that we had secured a bonus point victory.

There were some really good performances on the day to underline yet again our ability to compete in this Division. The return of 5 or 6 players from holiday and injury should make selection next week a real headache at least for that golden 2 hours from 12.30 to 2 p.m. On Saturday. It will be Cwmgwrach’s turn to visit Rhigos and this is one local derby that is always a close one to call.