Fixture

Llandovery RFC | 1st Team 42 - 0 Ystalyfera RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
18 September 2019 / Team News

Llandovery 42 – 0 Ystalyfera

Following promotion into the WRU Championship, Ystalyfera were back in the Welsh Cup competition after a ten year gap (2009-19) in the Welsh Plate. Our First Round opponents were Premiership side Llandovery at Church Bank. Now a well-established Premiership side, the “Drovers” were expected to be tough opponents, and so it proved. In the past the sides met each other in the 1988-89 West Wales Cup first Round, ‘Fera losing 4 – 36. The only other meetings were in League competition – In 1973-74, the last season of the West Wales Championship when ‘Fera lost 8 -10 at Ynysydarren, and eight times in the West Wales Sections, results being even with two wins at home and two wins away for both sides. This being the first competitive fixture for Llandovery this season, the weather was warm with complete sunshine.

‘Fera kicked off with the sun behind them, starting proceedings with a half way line out. The home side made their first attack, and the referee reminded both packs of forwards the rules before the first scrum. Llandovery midfield surged forward and a break thru the centre saw the first Try in the 6th minute, flanker Joe Powell with the 5 points. Outside Half Jack Maynard converted: 7 – 0. Play resumed with both sides looking for openings, the ball rotating back and fore until the 17th minute, when after a 5m scrum from the ‘Fera Try-line, Llandovery wing Aaron Warren tore thru the defence, this again converted by Maynard: 14 – 0. Llandovery were now playing with upmost confidence and were quickly back on the attack. In the 24th minute a drive by the home pack in a scrum saw loose-head prop Dino Dallavalle get a Try, again converted: 21 – 0. Five minutes later and another forward drive saw hooker Alun Rees get the 4th Try. Another conversion lifting the score: 28 – 0. Whilst playing the whole half on the defensive, an opportunity arose when the ‘Fera forwards etched out an opening, a chase for the line was on but the referee brought play back for a scrum.

 The second period began with a scrum which Ystalyfera won and attempted to surge forward. Llandovery gave away a penalty and ‘Fera outside-half Taylor Phillips set up a line out where the home side gained a scrum. This time however, when Llandovery broke out the Ystalyfera defence broke up the attack. Llandovery came again and ‘Fera won a penalty. Ystalyfera were certainly making a game of it with the forwards contesting well. Llandovery kept activity in the away half and both sides brought on substitutes. In the blistering conditions the ‘Fera forwards were all on fire, taking the game into the home half, being unlucky with a knock on. A real contest for the ball ensued with the visitors making chances and Llandovery defending well. In the 62nd minute, Llandovery broke out from their 22 and substitute Scott Maynard run in the 5th Try, again converted by Jack Maynard: 35 – 0. After the restart a set of kicks kept play in centre-field, until after penalties the battling ‘Fera forwards force the game into the Llandovery half. With more intense activity up front the referee was awarding penalties, but the Ystalyfera defence stood true. In the 78th minute an attack by the ‘Fera back division saw a smart interception allow Llandovery centre Kristian Jones sprint for the last Try under the posts, Jack Maynard converting all six leaving a final score of 42 – 0.

 The difference in the pace and sharpness of the play told in the end, but fair play to Ystalyfera, who would not lie down and die in the second half, forcing their premier opponents to keep battling all the way thru until the end.

 Penalty count was 7 against Llandovery and 10 against Ystalyfera.

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