Thursday, 2 May 2013

Wednesday rugby round-up

Cardiff Met look set to bag a top three finish in the Championship after they dispatched already relegated Glamorgan Wanderers 51-31, at their Cyncoed base.

The Wands managed five tries in a high scoring and entertaining encounter, with Rhys Jenkins, No8 Garrick Armstrong, Charlie Johnston, Jac Hopkins and Andrew Bradbury all crossing for the visitors.

But the students out-did their efforts with six touchdowns of their own. Sam Cross, Miles Normandale, Rhodri Davies, full back Guy Woods, wing Pierre Tucker and Ben Axten-Burrett all went over, with Matt O’Brien equally capable with the boot. He converted all six, added two penalties and even threw in a drop goal for good measure for a personal tally of 21 points.

The evening’s other fixture saw basement club Whitland pick up only their third win of the season via a 33-24 victory over Newbridge at Parc Llwyntygwyn.

The hosts earned a bonus point by crossing four times. Fraser Watson, Will Davies, Zach France Miller and Rhodri West did the damage, with Johnny Thomas converting two of them and adding two penalties, and Carwyn Jones kicking a further three points.

Full back Ceri Young grabbed a brace of tries for the visitors, with Stefan Morgan adding another and Neil Burnett kicking the remaining points.

There was plenty of drama at both ends of the table in One East.

At the top, Ystrad Rhondda posted a 28-21 home victory over Gilfach Goch to keep in touch with leaders RGC 1404, but weren’t happy when their opponents arrived with three Premiership players in the side.

On the team-sheet, they were all listed as in the side on permit, while the hosts pointed out this was against the rules. Gilfach stated that it was a clerical error, and that one was in fact in the team on dual registration, therefore breaking no rules.

The referee sided with Ystrad, and Gilfach went in to the fixture with just two replacements. It was a controversial beginning to the game, as some will question why a team who had nothing but pride to play for would arrive for an end-of-season fixture with three players with Premiership experience in their side.

However, the row must have inspired the Rhondda Valley side on, as they secured a bonus point win through braces by David Gratton and Jay Harris. Rhys Truelove converted all four to secure a vitally important win.

At the other end, Merthyr’s fate looks to have been sealed as they lost 42-13 away at Rumney and Mountain Ash surprised Rhydyfelin to pick up a vital 35-12 win.

With Merthyr expecting a points deduction for failing to fulfil a fixture, they will certainly have to produce a ‘Great Escape’ of the highest proportions to survive relegation.

Mountain Ash compounded their defeat by picking up a bonus point win as Rhydyfelin undoubtedly had one eye on their Swalec Plate final this weekend. Chris Edmonds (two), Ross Davies and Mark Addis were their try scorers.

In One West, Glynneath posted a 36-17 victory over Kenfig Hill to move above Ammanford and level on points with Kidwelly in the table.

Corey Jenkins starred for Glynneath by scoring a try, two conversions, three penalties and a drop goal, with a penalty try, a James Price score and a Rhodri Cole touchdown adding the extras.

Carl Davies crossed for the visitors’ sole five-pointer, with Nicky Giles kicking the rest of their points through penalties.

In Two East, Llantwit Fardre put seven tries past lowly Rhymney, while leaders Bedlinog came close to a half century of points as they hammered Garndiffaith 49-0.

Lampeter climbed off the bottom of the Three West table and above Milford Haven by beating the same side 53-7, touching the ball down nine times in the process.

There was also an important result in Three North as Harlech defeated Rhos 22-7 to really dent the visitors’ title challenge. The loss allowed Wrexham to climb above them to the top of the table with a 32-12 win over Porthmadog.

In Four South West, Glyncorrwg landed seven tries as they beat Pontardawe 43-12. They came from six separate scorers – Anthony Daws, Gareth Kingman, Steffan Hnatiuk, Joshua Thomas, Rhys Harris and Steffan Williams – as well as a penalty try.

Bettws moved just a point behind second-placed Caerleon in Five East thanks to a 54-18 beating of Brynithel. JJ Whitehead and Ryan Bradford both notched braces, with Kyle Williams, Sean Clarke, Mikey Thomas and Lewis Crowley making it eight tries scored for the hosts.

Abertysswg also ran up eight tries as they beat Canton 50-5 in Five South East. Gareth Lerwell grabbed two of them, with the others shared between Ricky Jones, Richard Theophilus, Josh Perry, Jamie Parry, Lee Llewellyn and Michael Wogan.

Cwmtwrch defeated Llandybie 55-7 in Five South West, while Glyncoch triumphed over Rhigos by the same scoreline in Five South Central.

The result of the day went to Pontrhydyfen in the same division, smashing Blaengarw 102-0 in their own back yard. They managed 16 tries, with Craig Cox equalling the club record of six tries in one match. Tom Frost nabbed himself a hat-trick, with the others scored by Chris Hunt, Kelvin Walters, Nick Edwards, Mark Davies, Richard Wanklyn and Chris Golvett.

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