Sub Setter at the double for Cardiff Met

Cardiff Met University 26 Glamorgan University 5

A LATE try double from replacement scrum-half Cameron Setter propelled Cardiff Met to a bonus-point win over Glamorgan at Cyncoed this afternoon, writes David Williams.

The hosts came from behind after an early Ben Cullen score but it wasn’t a totally convincing display from Cardiff in an error-strewn BUCS Premier South A League match in the Welsh capital.

For the home side it was a third win from four games this season while the loss was a fourth in a row  for pointless Glamorgan, who face a tough trip to Swansea next Wednesday.

Actually, it was Glamorgan that made the better start as they enjoyed the majority of the early possession and took a surprise lead when full-back Cullen came into the line and was on hand to touch down from close range. Matt Morgan missed the conversion.

After a shaky opening, Cardiff’s dominance up front began to show and despite fly-half Cooke missing a penalty the home pack won two scrums against the head in quick succession. It was a show of power that would continue throughout the match.

Cooke had a hand in Cardiff’s first try on 19 minutes when he fed flanker Tom Hall and the skipper burst through a couple of weak tackles to slide over. Cooke added the extras to make it 7-5.

Despite going in front, Cardiff’s game, and Glamorgan’s come to that, couldn’t flow as turnovers, knock-ons and some indifferent refereeing decisions made the encounter a frustrating stop-start affair.

Cooke missed a second penalty before the half was out but it was Glamorgan who again got out of the blocks the quicker when the second period got under way. Morgan came within inches of regaining the lead for his men when a scruffy drop-goal crashed against the crossbar and back into play.

Cardiff left wing Pierre Tucker looked dangerous throughout and he nearly got on the scoresheet but couldn’t quite chase down Jamie George’s kick ahead on the hour mark.

But from another Glamorgan scrum to go against the head, this time just five metres from their own line, Cardiff No 8 Patrick Roberts bulldozed his way over for Cooke to convert with around 10 minutes left.

Setter then went over for the third try a few minutes later, cutting through a gaping hole in the opposition defence to touch down, and Cooke slotted the easy conversion to make it 21-5. With the rain lashing down the hosts now went in search of the all-important fourth score.

They came close when replacement prop Jordan Saunders went on a Graham Price-esque run deep into Glamorgan territory but moments later Setter darted over from a quickly-taken tap penalty.

It wasn’t always pretty but another bonus-point victory puts Cardiff – away to Exeter in a week’s time – in a healthy position in the table while Glamorgan can take heart from their performance despite the defeat.

Man of the match – Tom Hall (Cardiff Met)