Pontardawe 19 Trebanos 15

Saturday 5th November 2011

SWALEC Bowl 2nd Round

'Banos Exit Bowl Despite Second Half Fightback

(match report by Roy Bowen)

Trebanos take a one mile trip up the valley to play old rivals Pontardawe at the Recreation ground. This season the teams will play against each other on four occasions; two league encounters (Trebanos having narrowly won the first league game); the Swansea Valley cup (which the Ancient Borough lost) and today's encounter which will allow the winner to progress further in the SWALEC bowl.

Pontardawe are the oldest club in the Swansea Valley and steeped in history. Formed in 1882 together with Loughor, Bargoed and Pentyrch they are one of the oldest rugby union clubs in Wales and they celebrated 125 years of rugby in 2007. The club have produced three international players namely;

On a sunny and bright November afternoon Pontardawe kicked off with a breeze and the sun at their backs; Trebanos caught the kick out and found touch on the Pontardawe ten metre line; they won ball and the outside half sent up a high kick into the visitors half; full back Cerith Edwards took a great catch, but he was penalised for holding on to the ball in the tackle and the Pontardawe outside half kicked a pearler from the touchline to give the home side a 3-0 advantage with only three minutes gone. Trebanos made some attacking forays through their forwards with Chris Balfe and Dai Davies leading the way; but; a strong defence by Pontardawe nullified any attacking moves.

After eight minutes Pontardawe won ball on the half way and the outside half sent up a towering kick; but; again Cerith Edwards looking into the sun took a magnificent catch; recycled; the ball was sent out by Kristian Jones along the line; but; winger Matthew Edwards was tackled into touch. Trebanos won ball at the lineout and attacked down the middle some 20 metres out; but; Pontardawe won ball at the breakdown their No7 and No8 doing great work; the outside half sent a kick down to the visitors 22 metre line were Edwards gathered and put in a good clearance back up field. Trebanos seemed anxious and nervous, and attacked from first and second phases, allowing the Pontardawe cover defence plenty of time to cover across and tackle the wide men. It was centre Gareth Hopkins that gave Trebanos some go forward driving down the middle; it was carried on by Kristian Jones sniping down the narrow side; then by the ever present Declan Bale; the ball was recycled; but; a little chip kick by Ross Jones managed to run out of play over the try line and was minored.

After 17 minutes play Pontardawe were awarded a penalty 30 metres out under the posts and they owed it to their talisman at No 8; he was in the movement on three different occasions driving the ball on and empowering his forwards to forward and make good decisions. The outside half stepped up and kicked it over. Ross Jones sent Trebanos back into an attacking position 30 metres out with a good kick to touch; a scrum ensued from the lineout and a free kick awarded to the home side; off they went; but; a great tackle by Gareth Hopkins put down the big second row and Rod Williams was on the ball like a flash winning a penalty for Trebanos on the half way line in front of the posts. Matthew Edwards just pulled it to the left of the posts. From the kick off Chris Balfe caught the ball and went charging down the field like the wild bull of the Pampas; back the ball came Kristian Jones to Ross Jones; Pontardawe miles offside and for the first time in the game they were penalised to a huge cheer from the Trebanos faithful. From 30 metres in front of the posts Matthew Edwards kicked it over for three points.

From the kick out Trebanos eventually won ball and Kristian Jones sent it out once more along the three quarters to speedster Jordan Hopkins; he was tackled on the touchline and his opposite winger stopped Trebanos playing the ball. With no Pontardawe cover in place it was a chance for the ‘Banos’ to score; the referee sent him to the sin bin for a 10 minute surf and turf. Trebanos were next to be penalised for not rolling away in the tackle; captain Rod Thomas asking for the third time in 32 minutes for an explanation (unlike Rod to question decisions). Anyway Pontardawe booted down on to the Trebanos half way line, they won ball; the forwards drove on; but; a knock on by Trebanos gave the advantage in the scrum to Pontardawe. The home side won ball and the scrum half threw a long pass to the centre, he went away down the touchline; but; Rod Williams as ever covering across tackled him into touch. A shrill blast on the whistle and referee Mr Metcalfe sent Cerith Edwards into the sin bin for a 10 minute spell for throwing the ball away. (Naughty Boy).

With the Pontardawe winger back on the field of play and seven minutes of the first half left Pontardawe won a penalty and they kicked it into touch ten metres from the Banos line. The Potardawe No 8 won ball and drove on from the lineout; then the scrum half drove on; and all of Pontardawe were there driving on but the ref blew up and gave a scrum to Trebanos. Pressure from the Pontardawe front three won the home side ball and the pack drove it on at the scrum. Trebanos were again penalised for pulling it around and Pontardawe had another scrum five metres out; the No8 picked up and drove on; but; Gareth Hopkins again tackled him. The ball went forward and Trebanos won the scrum; they lost ball and the Pontardawe scrum half dived over; but; was short of the try line, then the No8 drove for the line but Rhodri Davies tackled him back a yard and the ref blew for a penalty to Trebanos, Kris Jones found touch for Trebanos on the 22 metre line. With
43 minutes played Trebanos lost ball at the lineout, the Ponty pack were now rampaging down the touchline; eventually being driven over the touchline for another throw in. Trebanos lost the ball again and out it went to the centre then to the No8; he was tackled by Hopkins; the ball was recycled and the scrum half sent out a pass to the right wing, he beat the covering defence and scored in the corner. The outside half added the extra points with a kick from the touchline.

Half time: Pontardawe 13 Trebanos 3

Straight from the Trebanos kick off a Pontardawe player was tackled early and immediately the home outside half kicked Ponty back on to the Trebanos 22 metre line.

Pontardawe won ball away went the backs tackled in midfield the ball came back to the outside half and up it went; Kris Jones was under the ball; but; an early tackle on him saw the ball go forward and the covering Trebanos player caught the ball whilst coming back to defend and was rightly offside; however Mr Metcalfe gave the latter decision and Pontardawe were awarded a sitter of a penalty 22 metres out in front of the visitors posts. The visiting team were gutted; but up stepped the Pontardawe outside half and blindfolded he added three points to the score. With 5 minutes of the second half gone Trebanos were unlucky not to score; Rod Williams won ball at the tail of the lineout Kris Jones to Ross Jones to Gareth Hopkin; he straightened up; gave Rod Thomas a lovely pass and on to Cerith Edwards; but; as he went over the try line the ball was knocked on. After six minutes of the second half Trebanos won a touch on the Pontardawe 5 metre line, Rod Williams won ball at the tail of the lineout on to prop Damien Blake who drove on; then to fellow prop Chris Balfe; he drove on under the Pontardawe posts, back the ball came to Ross Jones to Jordan Hopkins to Gareth Hopkins; but; down it all went and a scrum awarded to Trebanos on the five metre line, the forwards drove it on and Kristian Jones picked up and dived over on the narrow side for a try. However the try was disallowed because the referee did not see it and gave Trebanos a lineout on the 5 metre line, Trebanos won ball in the middle and the forwards drove on; then Chris Balfe emerged from the fray and dived over for a good undisputable try. Matthew Edwards added the extra points making the score 16 -10.

With 32 minutes of the game left the Pontardawe second row had a yellow for tackling a man about ten yards away from the ruck and off he went for a surf and turf. Trebanos were then brought back for a forward pass with speedsters Hopkins and Edwards away down the touchline for a certain score. From loose play in midfield Trebanos were awarded a penalty and Matthew Edwards from 40 metres out and 15 metres infield pulled his kick across the posts. Trebanos kept on pressing and Rhoss Jones sent Pontardawe back on to their 22 metre line with a 40 metre kick; but; Pontardawe won good ball in the middle of the line and the forwards drove on; a recurring pattern throughout the game. With 24 minutes left Pontardawe won ball at the lineout and attacked down the middle via the No7 back came the ball in the tackle and out it went to outside half; to centre; a long pass to the winger and he was away down the touchline; but he came back inside and Cerith Edwards and Kristian Jones tackled him a yard short of the line when a certain try in the corner seemed a safe bet. Ponty won a penalty and they kicked to touch on the 5 metre line. They won at the tail of the lineout and they drove on; out to the backs where Amer Hussain; Rod Wiliams and Gareth Hopkins tackled the big men to the ground. Trebanos cleared their lines with a forty metre touch finder. Cerith Edwards was injured and had to leave the field. Former Pontardawe player Shaun Hamer replacing him with twenty minutes left on the clock. With Hamer playing at outside half his first task was to kick the visitors on to the half way line.

With 9 minutes of the game left Declan Bale won ball for Trebanos at the front of the lineout 20 metres from the Pontardawe line and the forwards went driving on like Tasmanian devils; ‘Twm’ Thomas appearing for the first time this season after his American dream tour and a visit to the Antipodes; he dived over the try line; but; a knock on brought a scrum down and a put in to Pontardawe. They won ball; out it went and the winger made a good run before Edwards tackled him to touch. Back came the Ancient Borough the forwards driving on; out to Ross Jones to Hopkins driving down the middle; but another knock on brought a scrum to Pontardawe; the No8 picked and sent a cracking kick down the tram lines, Trebanos lost ball on their 2 2metre line and the Pontardawe forwards from 25 metres set up the platform for the outside half to drop a neat goal for three more points. Trebanos were not finished they gained a lineout some 20 metres from the home try line; they won ball at the tail of the line out it went via Kristian Jones to Shaun Hamer to Gareth Hopkin; he was tackled and the ball recycled; the forwards went driving on under the home uprights; the ball came out Shaun Hamer on to Rhoss Jones who scored at the side of the posts. The conversion was missed. With only 2minutes left Hamer made a break in midfield and prop Damien Blake carried it on; eventually the referee called time.

Full time: Pontardawe 19 Trebanos 15

Trebanos RFC
15 Cerith Edwards
14 Matthew Edwards
13 Rhodri Thomas (Capt.)
12 Gareth Hopkins
11 Jordan Hopkins
10 Rhoss Jones
9 Kristian Jones
1 Dai Davies
2 Jonathan Harding
3 Chris Balfe
4 Declan Bale
5 Rhodri Davies
6 Amer Hussain
8 Luke Davies
7 Rhodri Williams
   
Replacements: Damien Blake for Dai Davies (45 mins)
  Rhys Thomas for Jonathan Harding (45 mins)
  Malcolm Whiteman for Amer Hussain (70 mins)
  Shaun Hamer for Cerith Edwards (61 mins)
 
Referee: Mr. David Metcalfe, Llanelli.