Croesyceiliog 19 Rumney 31
16 October 2005
There was a feeling of optimism at Woodland Road before this all important game against fellow strugglers Rumney. Hooker Anthony Axford was back in the side after a three-week absence to get married. Added to that was the return of former captain and talisman Jason Lloyd for his first game of the season. From the first minute the cockerels looked as though they meant business with a driving maul that took play from half way deep into the opposition 22. And that was where they stayed for the first 10 minutes. But unfortunately they failed to turn pressure into points. Full back David Davies taking over the kicking duties in the absence of Matthew Entwistle missed his first penalty attempt. Jason Lloyd picked up from a scrum and charged into the heart of the Rumney 22 only for his pass to go to ground when a try looked on.
But, inexplicably, just 4 minutes later the home side were 15 points down and hard as they tried for the rest of the game there was just no way back. With their first sortie into the Croesy 22, Rumney forced a penalty which outside half Clark duly converted. Straight from the kick-off Rumney broke through the flimsy home defence and fullback O'Neill touched down. The home crowd (and most of the home team) watched on as unbelievably the same thing happened again from the next kick off and wing Miller raced away for the first of a hat-trick of tries, converted by Clark.
The Cockerels did their best to claw their way back into the game. The inspirational Axford led a drive which ended just short of the try line. This time pressure was turned into points. The Croesy scrum was by now dominating and when they elected for a scrum from a penalty the referee was left with no choice but to award a penalty try as the scrum half kicked the ball out of the back of the scrum as it was about to reach the try line. Davies kicked the conversion to bring the score back to 7-15.
Sadly the home side could not capitalise on their scrum dominance and it was Rumney who increased their lead 5 minutes before half time after their scrum half charged through a gap a mile wide at the back of the line out to put Miller in again. In first half injury time Clark added a second penalty to make it 7-23 at the break.
Clark added another penalty shortly after half-time and Miller completed his hat-trick. But with 25 minutes left the Cockerels threw everything into trying to salvage the game. Unfortunately, time again poor handling and forced passes going to ground was their undoing. They did manage two tries, the first from second row Lee Williams who was on the end of a flowing move. The second was another penalty try as the Croesy pack continued to have the upper hand in the scrum. Davies again converted to make 19-31 with still 15 minutes remaining. This was as close as Croesy were to get as the visitors finished the stronger. There was one final chance when Davies made a scything break, taking play from one 22 to the other. But the defence swallowed him up and the support was never close enough.
Depite another defeat this was by far the Cockerels best performance of the season and a step in the right direction. There is plenty of commitment from the players and a great attitude in training. Everyone is pulling together and there is still a feeling of optimism that the poor start to the season will be turned around before long.
On Saturday, Croesy face a difficult trip to Bargoed.