Tag Archives: Win

RHIGOS 15 COWBRIDGE 5

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What a difference a week makes a super performance today overcoming the elements and a strong well organised and highly rated Cowbridge side who had only lost so far this season to Cefn Cribbwr and Bryncethin.

But the day did not start well with the field extremely heavy and drizzle driving into the faces of players and spectators. This was not a game for the faint hearted.

Injuries and work commitments again ate into our playing staff and the side that eventually took the field was: Richard Williams, Simon Grindle, Richard Smith,(Captain), Nathan Davies, Mike Lovett, Lee Morgan, Greg Morris, James Lewis, Shaun Simons, David Price, Lloyd Bryant, Luke Williams, Ryan Williams, Aled Edwards, Dicky Davies, Subs. Jon Smith, Steve Davies and Kyle Hinks.

Playing against the wind and drizzle Rhigos battled hard in the first quarter of the game to get out of their 22 meter zone and were somewhat fortunate that the Cowbridge fly half, Steve Birchenough, missed an relatively easy penalty. But we battled away well led by Richard Smith and with James Lewis and legend Mike Lovett tackling their hearts out eventually Dave price and luke cleared our lines and it was our turn to put Cowbridge on the rack. A line out deep in Cowbridge red zone was driven on and 11 phases later Shaun Simons fed veteran Greg Morris who cleverly switched from narrow to open side for a fine try that Dave Price improved with a well judged conversion.

Back came Cowbridge and helped by the wind they forced their way into our 22 time and time again only to be beaten back by a super defensive wall. Again Rhigos had a lucky break when Birchenough failed with his second kick downwind that drifted narrowly wide of the left hand post.

The score remained 7 – nil at half time when Rhigos were forced to reshuffle as Greg Morris and James Lewis had to leave the field injured. Both had played a huge part in Rhigos first half efforts and reluctantly had be substituted by Jon Smith and ever young Steve Davies. Jonny went to No: 8 , Lloyd came into the flank and Steve slotted into the left wing.

Cowbridge were now faced with quite a task playing into the wind and rain so Rhigos sportingly decided to help them when Fridge was Yellow carded for flopping over at the ruck and almost squashing the scrum half. The penalty was kicked to touch and from the line out the Cowbridge pack succeeded in doing against the wind what they could not do with it when they drove over Ross Llewellyn for a fine captain’s try that was just too far out for the conversion.

That fine effort seemed to take the energy out of the Cowbridge team. They spent the rest of the second half penned back deep in their own territory as Rhigos well led by the driving runs of Jonny Smith supported by Lee Roy and Lloyd carried the ball at them time and time again.

Dicky Davies and Dave Price kept the ball in front of the pack nicely and it was only a matter of time before Cowbridge cracked. Their defence was penalised at the ruck and Dave Price stepped up to convert a penalty that took the score up to 10 points before Jon Smith broke from a scrum outside the back row to send Luke over for a really well worked try that rounded off the scoring. It was a very good club performance and coaches Ian and Mark were well pleased with the discipline shown by the players at the tackle and the ruck. They praised also the work of Simon Grindle in his first match as hooker after 25 years at outside half and Billy Buses who went through the pain barrier and toughed it out to the end of the game in the boiler room of the scrum.

RHIGOS 32 TONNA 0

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12/11/11

After a week of heavy rain which stopped on Friday evening when a drying breeze sprung up from the West it was no surprise that Saturday’s home game to Tonna was played on a heavy and strength sapping surface.

Despite losing Dan twin, James Lewis and Mark Jones, three stalwarts this season, through injuries from last week’s adventure in the Swalec Bowl we actually gathered together 20 players for selection before kick off.

The team was: Richard Smith (Captain) Dwayne Dudley, Rhydian Williams, Nathan Billy Davies, Richard Williams, Mike Lovett, David Williams, Jon Smith, Shaun Simons, David Price, Aled Edwards, Luke Williams, Lloyd Bryant, Adrian Lewis and Dickie Davies and on the bench Ryan Williams, Leeroy Morgan, Greg Morris, Simon Grindle and Steve Davies.

Tonna had secured a run of good results this season with recent wins over Porthcawl and Ogmore Vale and a very creditable draw with Cefn Cribbwr so we were anticipating a nail biter.

Unusually but importantly, Rhigos played well right from kick off with several strong runs from Luke Williams and Dave Williams breaking the Tonna line before we forced a penalty that Dave Price converted for 3 points. Within minutes we were 8 points up when strong running again broke the defence and Tonna were forced to concede a throw in from 5 yards. Mike Lovett leaped like a salmon and flipped the ball to Jon Smith sweeping around the front for a well worked score that we had never done before.

Tonna’s backs threatened with some dangerous running and close passing and were unlucky when first Mike Lovett put in an excellent tackle on the line and then their left wing chasing hard just failed to ground a difficult bouncing grubber kick just before it went dead. Woken up by this burst of pressure from Tonna and after squandering some good approach work on a number of occasions Rhigos finally clicked and backrow and three quarters combined well for Luke Williams to send Aled Eggy on a surge down the wing. He ran outside the full back and sprinted around under the posts for a really fine try that Dave Price converted for a 15 point lead at Half time.

After half time the Rhigos pack upped their work rate and dominated the scrum, lineout and breakdown with a super show of power that saw Tonna penned back in their 22 metre zone for practically the wholeof the 40 minutes. A series of excellent controlled driving mauls saw first Richard Williams and then Jon Smith score fine tries but really any one of the eight forwards could have been on the score sheet. In the final minutes with the bonus point already secured Jon Smith picked up and scored from a five metre scrum wide out and Luke Williams converted majestically to round off the scoring. It was Jon Smith’s hat trick try and it rounded off an excellent performance by him strong in defence and forceful in attack.

We were also delighted to see the return of David Twin after his nasty eye injury pre season, and Greg Morris who seems to have recovered well from snapped Achilles tendon the season before last. Next week is a tough one away to Cefn Cribbwr and who knows we might have more than 15 players on the bus.

What great preparation the game was for Dai Morris 70th birthday party later that Saturday evening. It was marvelous to see so many former Rhigos, Glynneath and Neath boys at the club celebrating with one of the truly great Welsh players of all time.

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.