Fixture

Rhigos defeated Cwmgwrach in a fast and open game. I'll say that again. Rhigos defeated Cwmgwrach in a fast and open game. The words do not quite have the samerhythm and magic of Max Boyce's famous line about Wales and England but it does sound pretty good to me.

After last week's disappointments, losing by just 2 points to top of the table Glais then not having enough players to travel to Porthcawl Rhigos finally got the result we deserved against a big brave Cwmgwrach pack and experienced three quarter line.

On the night every Rhigos player and Dai Neck on permit from Hirwaun played exceptionally well in defence tackling everything that moved and in attack stretching Cwmgwrach wide from touchline to touchline to score 4 tries and earn a deserved bonus point.

The midfield of Sos, Shaggy and Paul outplayed their opponents in attack and defence  to sew up the middle of the field while the back 3 of Brandon, Lewis and Ryan covered and cleared all the long probing kicks from Gareth Morris.

We had much of the game against a strong breeze in the first half and deserved to score the first try when Brandon chose to go alone with 3 outside him and just about got to the line for a try to far out for Ryan to convert. Throughout the half though Cwmgwrach were heavier and stronger in the scrums, the Rhigos front 5 outplayed their opponents in the loos. Duane, James, Matthew, Rhyd and Josh were everywhere playing with great energy and drive.

The back row of Davey Twin, Dan Twin and Dai Neck tackled, covered and tackled again to shut down all the close channels and when in possession the whole 8 took the game to Cwmgwrach. At half time the score was only 1 try to nil and Rhigos deserved a lot more. Big Rhyd and Davey Twin went close and there were a couple of occassions when we we opted to go take on the midfield when the outside shannels were wide open for Lewis, Ryan and Brandon.

In the second half with the wind behind us Sos helped by Gareth's long pass took control of the game. He kicked long diagonals behind the defence and sent Shaggy and Paul into the midfield with good tactical variety. Another score was inevitable - Sos chipped, Ryan chased, switched inside to Paul who ran in to the posts for a well deserved score that Ryan converted.

It got better when the forwards and backs combined neatly with a series of offloads from Big Rhyd, Matthew, Gareth, Duane, Josh finally sent James over for a cracker. Again Ryan added the conversion. Blimey - 19 nil up - we were all scratching our heads.

Cwmgwrach struck back when their best player Jonny Smith burst out of a tackle to score a fine individual try that Gareth Morris converted.

But Rhigos had the last word and rightly so when Sos hit a long diagonal that Ryan chased and hacked on over the line for Gareth to fall on and claim the bonus point try. Ryan converted. A fine win on a dryish ground and Mark was very pleased for the team whose superior fitness and organisation was too much on the night for Cwmgwrach.