Swansea Uplands 20 Trebanos 17
Saturday 1st March 2008.
This encounter with a side firmly rooted at the foot of the Division five table, with just one win, should, on paper, have been a routine win for Trebanos; unfortunately for the ‘banos faithful, rugby is played on grass and not paper.
Trebanos started brightly, running the ball from just inside their half and gaining ground when they did so on most occasions, ignoring the strong wind at their backs. The first score came early in the game to Prop Simon Knight, who was driven over following a period of pressure from the Trebanos forwards. The try was converted by Rhodri Thomas.
The game was played for the most part between the home side’s ten and twenty two metre lines, with Rhodri Thomas kicking a penalty to increase the lead. On the only occasion that the home side got into the Trebanos twenty two they scored a very good try, with the ball being moved quickly along the line for right wing D Riley to cross in the corner, the try going unconverted. The next time the home side got into Trebanos’ half, they were awarded a penalty by referee, Mr J Hardy which was kicked by home outside-half L Barry, the half finishing eight points to ten in Trebanos’ favour.
The second half started as did the first, with Trebanos moving the ball at every opportunity. Full-back Cerith Edwards cut the home defence with a superb run to within fifteen metres of the home line only for his inside pass to go to ground and the chance was lost. It was however the home side that score first in the second period and it was a repeat of their first try with the ball moving along the line for right wing D Riley to cross wide out for his second try which again went unconverted. Trebanos were stung into action as the home side scored even though they were one player short; as their full-back was sin-binned for a cynical off-side at the end of the first half.
The pressure exerted by the Trebanos forwards had its reward with quick ball being moved across the line for Andrew Penhale to add to his tally by scoring a good try with Rhodri Thomas adding the conversion. The home side then upped their effort and left wing R Grey crossed for their third try and they were later to be denied a bonus point try only when Mr Hardy spotted a knock-on in the act of scoring.
This was a poor Trebanos performance, against a side that had conceded 51 points on their visit to the Park in September, but the club has to move on and learn from the mistakes. Prop Simon Knight has to be mentioned for his scrummaging, where his opposite number really suffered, and for his full contribution in loose play, both in attack and defence. Tremendous Simon, long may it continue.
Trebanos Team:
C Edwards; A Penhale, S Williams, J Bailey, M Morris; R Thomas, O George;
N Bartlett,
J Harding, S Knight; L Jones, C Harries; M Evans, R Jones (Capt), M Hurst-Hughes.