Trebanos 30 Pyle 27
Saturday 17th September 2011
Speedster Edwards wins game for Trebanos with hatrick of tries
(match report by Roy Bowen)
To all you followers of Trebanos on its web site, especially hooker ‘Twm’ Thomas now out in the Australian tropics (drink plenty of gin and tonic to keep the malaria away) I have not forsaken you, but, my computer died and I had to buy a new one. Busking in the Swansea underground takes time to raise the cash, but now I’m up and running and all the games will be on ASAP. Many thanks for the abuse you’ve all given me since the start of the season.
On a blustery and overcast September Saturday, Pyle were the visitors to Trebanos Park. With the aroma of fresh coffee in the air from Angela and Sharon’s buffet bar and as usual the Trebanos faithful were in abundance to support the Ancient Borough. It was really good to speak with Trebanos legend’s Ian Pugh and Andrew Thomas supporting their former club at critic’s corner. Speaking to them at half time they both felt that Trebanos could sneak this game. How right they were!!
Having lost away to Birchgrove last week coaches Rod Jones and Andrew Tipuric had worked hard at this week’s training sessions.
Pyle played up the valley with a blustery wind at their backs Trebanos wearing their new white and blue away kit courtesy of Fluid Power Solutions kicked off through Ross Jones and it was taken by the Pyle No 5, tackled by wing Michael Morris the ball went loose and a combination of Luke Davies and scrum half Kristian Jones sent Chris Balfe charging down field; but the ball was knocked on in the tackle and Pyle were awarded a scrum on the 22 metre line. Trebanos were awarded a penalty at the scrum, off went Kris Jones with a tap penalty to Malcolm Whiteman who was flattened with a no arms tackle by his fellow open side wing forward, (who was dynamic all afternoon for the visitors and made more carries than any other forward). Scrum half Kristian Jones wearing his silver kicking boots slotted it over for 3 points.
.After six minutes Pyle won a penalty on the half way line and the fullback send Trebanos back to 20 metres from their own line. The big Pyle forwards won ball at the lineout and drove it on to ten metres from the home line. The ball went forward from the visitors and from the ensuing home scrum they drove Trebanos off the ball. After a series of forward drives and three quarter play’s by Pyle all in the Trebanos 22 metre area; with both big centres going down the middle, it was tackling time for the home team, some fantastic defending kept out the big Pyle team. Eventually Trebanos won a penalty and Ross Jones cleared to touch on the half way.
Back came Trebanos with some three quarter play to within 10 metres of the Pyle try line but the ball was lost and the full back sent the home team back up field with a good touch finder. With 18 minutes of the game gone Trebanos were penalised for offside at a lineout and the Pyle full back converted the penalty to even the scores. Within 5 minutes Pyle were further ahead, from a lineout they drove on with a rolling maul to within ten metre of the home try line. They were awarded a penalty and opted for a kick to touch on the Banos 5 metre line. The No 8 won the ball and the forwards drove on, then, out it went to the centre he went down the middle were Malcolm Whiteman tackled him, the ball was recycled and out it went from scrum half to centre to outside half to the No 8 who gave a lovely inside pass and the left wing streaked over for a try out wide. The full back narrowly missed the conversion. On 32 minutes, a poor Trebanos kick up field was caught by the Pyle scrum half on the half way line, he sent it along the three quarter line and their speedy left wing beat two men and sprinted over the Banos line for his second try in the same corner. The full back with a good kick from the touchline added the two points bringing the score 12-3 in favour of Pyle.
Back came Trebanos with Steve Morgan, Chris Balfe, Dai and Luke Davies making progress up to within 5 metres from the Pyle try line where the home team won a put in at the scrum. Pyle were penalised for offside and Kristian Jones booted it over from the 22 metre line. Back came Pyle via their No7 charging a kick down under the Trebanos posts, but from the ensuing scrum Luke Davies picked up drove on; giving Kristian Jones time to send a big relieving kick into touch on the half way line. From the lineout Trebanos were penalised and the Pyle talisman the open side wing forward took a quick tap penalty, made ground before off loading to the No 8 who sent out a pass to the left wing again he beat players on the outside and inside to score a lovely try out wide right on half time bringing his tally up to three tries. The full back failed with the conversion. The referee brought the first half to an end with the score
Half Time: Trebanos 6 Pyle 17
Although Trebanos were losing they improved as the half progressed and seemed to be getting to grips with this big physical Pyle team. Within seconds of the kick off Dai ‘Screech’ Davies had dislocated his finger but running repairs from Paul Jones (Metal workers have got such skills) putting Dai’s finger back in place (and without any screaming) and off went Dai back into the fray. It was that left winger again who gave Banos problems and only a brilliant tackle by Kristian Jones stopped this live wire from doing further damage to Trebanos. It was Trebanos that attacked the Pyle line through their three quarters; but, unfortunately the ball was knocked on in a promising move. After 55 minutes it was Trebanos that scored via the three quarters with full back Cerith Edwards coming into the line he passed to speedster Matthew Edwards who scored out wide. Jones the boot kicked a beauty to add the two points making the score Pyle 17 Trebanos 13.
On 55 minutes Trebanos won a scrum from the kick off and Luke Davies drove on, then Dai Davies drove on, he recycled the ball to Kristin Jones; he put a high up and under and there was an almighty collision between the Pyle centre and Gareth Hopkin. Hard case Hopkin was literally down and out and received medical attention culminating in an Ambulance admitting Gareth to Morriston Hospital with a head injury. I am very glad to tell everybody that Gareth was allowed home on Saturday night, he is shaken up but OK. This resulted in a 35 minute delay to the game. The players now duly refreshed it was back to action. Trebanos re-organised with Lee Danton coming on as second row, Amer Hussain reverting to centre and Rhodri Davies reverting to his favourite blind side spot. Trebanos won a scrum on the Pyle 22 metre line and they were penalised for standing up in the scrum. Jones the boot added the three points to bring the score to 17-16. Back came Pyle through their forwards driving down to the Trebanos 30 metre line and winning a lineout from the lineout Trebanos were caught offside and within two minutes of Trebanos scoring the full back slotted over the penalty to put Pyle back in charge at 20-16. Pyle then won a scrum on the half way line and the scrum half attacked the Banos line via the centre and with the right wing coming in at pace sent out a lovely pass to the left wing who ran a good angle and was tackled by Amer Hussain 3 metres from the Trebanos try line. From the scummage the ball went scrum half, outside half, inside centre and the outside centre strolled in unopposed autographing the ball as he went over the try line, up stepped the full back and added the two point making the score 27-16.
Most supporters thought that the game had gone away from the Trebanos but the players are made of sterner stuff these days and are mentally strong. The Ancient Borough although down were not out and in the 62 minute of the game Edwards found a touch 15metres from the Pyle line. The visitors transgressed with a throw not 5 meters. Trebanos opted for a scrum winning the ball Lee Danton took it on, Kristian Jones was tackled a metre short under the posts prop Gareth Lynch took it on and was tackled on the line, back it came and Ross Jones spotted Matthew Edwards hanging about on the touchline with intent and cleverly floated out a lovely long pass for the wing man to touch down in the corner. Silver boots kicked a pearler from the touchline to add the extra points. With 20 minutes of the game left; Trebanos showed their fitness levels and credit to all the forwards that faced a huge pack; but; were now really in the game with good scrimmaging and good lineout that had worked all game; credit to Rod Davies, Steve Morgan and Luke Davies for good sensible options all game.
At 27-23 the momentum was now with Trebanos, for the next ten minutes the game was played between both 22 metre lines with the tackling from both sides resolute and determined. On 73 minutes Cerith Edwards gathered a high kick and went on a run beating three men; he passed to Amer Hussain to Chris Balfe to Malcolm Whiteman; Trebanos’s senior player showed all his guile and experience, he held the pass up long enough for speedster Edwards to have some space. Off went Captain Marvel beating two men with a sidestep; he raced down the touchline easily beating the cover defence and scoring underneath the posts to the joy of all the faithful; in the process of scoring he completed a hatrick of tries for himself. Silver boots added the points. With seven minutes remaining the game was closed down by Trebanos and the referee blew for time.
Full Time: Trebanos 30 Pyle 27
Today's other SWALEC League Division 4 SW Results (Unconfirmed):
Abercrave 21 Resolven 25
Glyncorrwg 20 Cwmavon 6
Maesteg Celtic 25 Briton Ferry 8
Neath Athletic 21 Birchgrove 18
Pontardawe 18 Nantyffyllon 19