Fixture

The first Round of the Welsh Plate competition saw Ystalyfera drawn at home to Nantyffyllon from Division Two West Central. The conditions were a blue sky and glorious sunshine, a half hour delay occurring due to the re-alignment of some lines on the pitch, at the insistence of the visiting coach.

Nantyffyllon kicked off into the sun from the School end, and Ystalyfera instantly surged quickly up field into the Garage corner. The delay appeared to have ‘fired’ the home side up, and in the 2^nd minute flanker Ben Williams powered thru the visitors for the first Try. Full Back Steffan Castle converted a long kick: score 7 – 0. A ‘Fera break off the re-start earned a penalty,  Outside Half Gareth James putting the game back in the Garage Corner. From a catch and drive, the ‘Fera backs moved the ball quickly from left to right, wing Luc Caines being stopped short of the try-line. A Nantyffyllon penalty for not releasing saw them clear their line, but Ystalyfera stole the ball from their put in at the line out, and Luc Caines tore thru their defence to get the second Try in the 8^th minute. Steffan Castle converted: score 14 – 0. Nantyffyllon now began their first attack, looking for gaps in the home defence, but the ‘Fera line was solid. Play rotated in midfield, handling mistakes by both sides breaking up play. In the 22^nd minute, a penalty kick attempt by Nantyffyllon fell short, and Ystalyfera chose to run the ball out from their half. Excellent passing and breaks into open spaces saw Captain and No8 Steffan Jones, release the ball to Luc Caines who run in his second Try. Well converted by Steffan Castle: score 21 – 0. The visitors were now a little ‘shell shocked’ and Ystalyfera were attacking from all quarters. In the 26^th minute following neat ball play and passing from forwards to backs, centre Jonathan Bayliss crossed over for the fourth Try, again put over by Steffan Castle: score 28 – 0. From the re-start Luc Caines sprinted up the touchline and cut inside, crossing the field only to deliver a forward pass to end the move. Soon the home side were pressing with a foray of scrums under the Nantyffyllon posts.  Breaking away and receiving a return pass out on the wing, Steffan Castle ran in the fifth Try in the 37^th minute. This was converted from the touchline by Steffan Castle with a superb long kick: score 35 – 0. Before the end of the half play resumed in the Garage Corner. From a scrum Ystalyfera swiftly passed into the middle, and an inside pass allowed scrum half Zac Beynon to dart over for the 6^th Try, this one converted by Steffan under the posts. Half time score: 42 – 0.

Ystalyfera re-started the game and a penalty chance to set up in the visitors’ corner was lost. The game settled on half way, until Ystalyfera slowly crept into the Nantyffyllon half. From a scrum and a clearance kick, play moved into ‘Fera territory. In the 54^th minute, ever eager Luc Caines took an opportunity and broke thru a gap in the Nantyffyllon defence, powering over for his third Try, and Steffan Castle’s seventh Conversion: score 49 – 0. The contest remained quite open, with the ‘Fera always looking for more chances and Nantyffyllon certainly not giving up in any way. The visitors were rewarded in the 60^th minute, scoring their first Try from a 5m line out. This was converted lifting the score to 49 – 7. The pace must have now begun to tell, with both sides committing handling errors, which interrupted the game. Substitutes now came on and the match lost some shape, Nantyffyllon took advantage and crossed over for a second Try in the 75^th minute. This was also converted: score 49 – 14. Proceedings ended in the last minute, with a disallowed push over Try for Ystalyfera, the referee not seeing the ball grounded.

This was a determined and resounding victory for Ystalyfera, not allowing Nantyffyllon to gain any control over events. The plan to attack from all corners of the park reaped dividends, and whilst the visitors made their best efforts to stem the tide, the conclusion was inevitable. Round 2 will be on the 27^th October.  

Pens For Ystalyfera  5                    Pens for Nantyffyllon:  6