Trebanos 45 Birchgrove 5
Saturday 7th January 2012
Seven Try 'Banos Back On Track After Christmas Break
(match report by Roy Bowen)
Former Welsh International Arwel Thomas, now coaching Birchgrove, brought his team to his home village for the second league outing between the sides. The 'Ancient Borough' narrowly lost at Birchgrove and I'm sure Trebanos coach Rhodri Jones was eager to see his side win at home and secure the bragging rights. Trebanos made changes due to holidays and injuries, Rhoss Jones moved to outside half and Ceri Richards came in on the left wing. Thanks to Teifion, the senior son in the Thomas family, who sponsored the game and with his father, Camber, in attendance this was definitely a family day out for the Thomas's. All three are former are former 'Banos players.
On a dry but overcast afternoon the game was switched to the nearby Pontardawe Leisure Centre field; Trebanos Park being unplayable due to heavy rain during the week. It was a pleasant surprise to see such a large following of the 'Trebanos faithful' pitch side as Birchgrove got the game started playing east to West. The first score came from Birchgrove; after two minutes the outside half made a break on the half way line he slipped the tackle and ran diagonally to the corner flag; drew the defender and slipped a pass to the left wing who dived in at the corner for a good try. The conversion was missed.
Immediately Trebanos won a throw in 20 metres from the Birchgrove line; Trebanos won ball; the forwards took it on, then out it went along the line; but a knock on brought a scrum to Birchgrove under their posts. Unfortunately Trebanos left wing Ceri Richards was injured and had to leave the field; this was his first start of the season after suffering a bad injury last year and had worked so hard to recover; on came replacement Craig Howells to the wing position. From the scrum Trebanos drove Birchgrove back; Kristian Jones scragged the Birchgrove No 8; prop Dai Davies won ball and took it on, then Gareth Lynch and Luke Davies carried; out it went to Ross Jones to centre Gareth Hopkin who charged for the line; but; was tackled short and Mr Evans called for another scrum; this time Trebanos won ball Luke Davies picked and drove on; then Lynch and fellow prop Davies followed. Mr Evans blew for knock on gave the visitors a scrum some 10 metres under the visitors posts. Trebanos again drove them back and received the put in at the scrum. Once more they drove it on Luke Davies controlling the ball at the back of the scrum; both the wing forward and scrum half were caught offside and Mr Evans awarded a penalty under the posts. Trebanos opted for another scrum; Trebanos drove on at the scrum; again Luke Davies controlling at the back; the pack drove over the Birchgrove line and Davies dived on the ball to score a try. Captain Rod Thomas from the 22 metre line converted.
The next ten minutes was played predominately between the 22 metre area but on 27minutes Trebanos attacked the visitors line; initially from a kick up the tram lines by Kristian Jones; everybody missed the ball but; Gareth Lynch was there to win it for Trebanos; he slipped a pass to scrum half Jones; on to Cerith Edwards to Craig Howells who sprinted down the touch line; tackled he sent an inside pass to Rod Thomas; he was tackled; Whiteman won ball; out to Amer Hussain to Howells to Lynch; he went to ground and Bale and Whiteman won ball for scrum half Jones to send a pass to Howells to Whiteman to Kristian Jones; the ever alert scrum half was aware that Matthew Edwards was lurking with intent on the wing and sent out a twenty metre pass to the speedster who sprinted down the touchline and dived in at the corner to score. Rod Thomas with a magnificent kick from the touchline added an extra two points to the score.
Back came Birchgrove with runs by their No8 and No7and their busy scrum half who had a good game keeping the Trebanos back row occupied for periods in the game. Trebanos defence was resolute with Whiteman, Hussain and Davies putting in some big tackles. In the 35th minute Birchgrove won a penalty under the home posts 20 metres out; they took a short penalty and the No8 went on a bulldozing run towards the try line only to be held up on the line; only desperate defence stopped a score; eventually Amer Hussain won ball and scrum half Jones (having a stormer and rightly awarded man of the match) with a superb kick under pressure found a 30 metre touch finder. On 43minutes and with the first half coming to an end; Trebanos won a scrum 30 metres from the visitors try line; Trebanos won ball and Luke Davies picked and sent a pass to Jones; on to Thomas; on to Matthew Edwards; on to Cerith Edwards who raced in over the try line but a good tackle turned him and was unable to ground the ball. Mr Evans gave Trebanos a scrum five metres out; the Trebanos pack drove it on the boys at the coalface putting in a hard shift; but Birchgrove deliberately collapsed the scrum and the referee awarded a try to the home team. Thomas kicked the conversion from under the posts.
Half time: Trebanos 21 Birchgrove 5
Trebanos made changes at half time outside half Ross Jones who had an injury to his shoulder was substituted by Lee Danton; they now made positional changes; Lee Danton went to second row; Amer Hussain to centre; Rod Thomas to outside half and Rhodri Davies to blind side wing forward. Within two minutes of the start Rhys Thomas and Dai Davies won ball for Trebanos Thomas and Hussain went down the middle; won by Rhodri Davies the ball went to Jones; on to Howells; down the middle again went Howells now 30 metres out; back to hooker Rhys Thomas; on to Whiteman to speedster Edwards; away he went sprinting down the touchline; an inside pass to Whiteman and the roaming No7 went over for a cracking try in the corner giving his side a well deserved bonus point. Thomas now wearing his blind fold unbelievably kicked the conversion from the touchline.
With ten minutes of the second half played Trebanos scrum half Jones came sniping down the narrow side some forty metres from the try line; tackled; a combination of Declan Bale; Rhys Thomas and Gareth Lynch won ball; hooker Thomas to Hussain to Hopkins; the centre brushed off the tackle and burst down the middle; he passed to Jones; on to Rhod Davies; back to Jones he sent out a pass to Thomas; tackled in midfield the ball was recycled; Jones once more sent it to Hussain to Luke Davies; the No8 sent a lovely pass winger Edwards who raced down the touchline; the speedster was to quick for the cover defence scoring a great try in the corner. Thomas failed with the conversion.
Within one minute of the last score Trebanos were further ahead; they won a penalty on their own 10 metre line, prop Gareth Lynch took a tap penalty and sent it to Gareth Hopkins to Kristian Jones to Cerith Edwards to Luke Davies; the No8 again gave a lovely well timed inside pass to Craig Howells the winger raced away down the middle of the field and scored between the posts for another beautiful try. Thomas added the extra points. Back came Birchgrove the No4 leading the way and becoming more influential in their play as the game progressed; their forwards took the game to Trebanos; but the home side’s defence was resolute and some great defensive work by the back row kept the home line without further score. With only two minutes of the game remaining wing Matthew Edwards gathered a kick 70 metre’s from the Birchgrove line. He set out on a run; swerving around one player and beating the other on the inside; the speedster raced clear and scored a fantastic try out wide. Thomas failed with the conversion.
Full time: Trebanos 45 Birchgrove 5
Trebanos RFC |
|
|---|---|
| 15 | Cerith Edwards |
| 14 | Matthew Edwards |
| 13 | Rhodri Thomas (Capt.) |
| 12 | Gareth Hopkins |
| 11 | Ceri Richards |
| 10 | Rhoss Jones |
| 9 | Kristian Jones |
| 1 | Dai Davies |
| 2 | Rhys Thomas |
| 3 | Gareth Lynch |
| 4 | Declan Bale |
| 5 | Rhodri Davies |
| 6 | Amer Hussain |
| 8 | Luke Davies |
| 7 | Malcolm Whiteman |
| Replacements: | Lee Danton |
| Jonathan Harding | |
| Craig Howells | |
| Jamie Watkins | |
| Referee: | Mr. Phillip Evans, Pencoed. |
Today's other SWALEC League Division 4 SW Results (unconfirmed):
Abercrave 7 Pyle 22
Glyncorrwg 18 Resolven 26
Nantyffyllon 6 Maesteg Celtic 24
Neath Athletic 70 Briton Ferry 10
Pontardawe 9 Cwmavon 29
Trebanos' Newest Facility: Well done Angela, it takes a woman to do a man's work
The old toilet block at Trebanos Park has been transformed into a sparkling up to the minute catering facility. Angela Alder in her own inimitable way has project managed its transformation during the last eight months; with gentle coaxing; threats and downright blackmail; the players, members, committee, friends, friends of friends, friends of friends of friends; husband Rod and local building suppliers have been lulled and transfixed into providing help. Angela through this site wants to thank everybody that participated in this project; it is much appreciated and told me, "this is a brilliant facility for Trebanos RFC and everybody should be proud of the work they have done".