Fixture

Ystalyfera RFC | 1st Team 16 - 3 Llandudno RFC | 1st Team
Luc Caines
Try 1
Steffan Castle
Try 1
Penalty 2

Match Report
02 November 2017 / Team News

Ystalyfera 16 – 3 Llandudno

The home Welsh Plate 2nd Round game versus Llandudno was delayed due to the need for a replacement referee, the start at 15:13 in cloudy, windless and dry conditions. This was the first ever meeting between the two sides, the visitors travelling a long way from North Wales.

Ystalyfera kicked off from the Swansea end of the field, and an immediate attack set up in the ‘Garage’ corner. After the first scrum Llandudno clear the ball, but with players offside give the ‘Fera the first chance of a penalty, outside half Steffan Castle converting in the 2nd minute. Back on the attack after the restart and Ystalyfera wing Luc Caines, having come into the centre of the line, chips the ball over the visitors defence and runs thru to score a well worked Try in the 8th minute. The conversion attempt by Steffan Castle hitting the post: score 8 – 0. Llandudno then make their first attack, Ystalyfera defending strongly. The visitors miss their first penalty attempt but continue to move forward with the ball into the ‘tunnel’ corner. A 5m scrum is cleared up efficiently by the ‘Fera pack and a long line kick by Steffan Castle moves play back into the Llandudno half. Ystalyfera now begin to spread the ball from left to right, looking for gaps in the visitors’ line of defence. Llandudno steal the ball and attempt to move forward , but the home side cover well. The game develops into a clean contest between the sides, both searching for weakness in their opponents defence. The penalty counts begin to increase and after working into midfield from a line out, the Llandudno outside half kicks over a drop goal in the 38th minute, leaving a half time score of 8 – 3.

The restart was pitted with a number of handling mistakes by both sides, resulting in a sequence of scrummages. Ystalyfera forwards worked on the opportunity and assert ‘power’ play into the ‘changing room’ corner. Llandudno had to defend resolutely with Ystalyfera mounting the pressure. In the 56th minute a determined drive by the home pack allowed Steffan Castle to spot the smallest of gaps and dive thru to get the second Try. Llandudno now upped the pace of their game, needing to claw back the points deficit. Ystalyfera were taking no risks however, and they took every opportunity to play the ball into the corners, leaving all the pressure on the visitors. With time moving on, the match was beginning to open up and Llandudno hoped to break thru on the flanks. The dominating Ystalyfera forwards however were having none of it and they kept the ball at every opportunity. In the 72nd minute a further penalty kick for Ystalyfera was put over by Steffan Castle, and the match played out to a final score of 16 – 3.

A fairly contested game by both sides saw Ystalyfera complete their 9th undefeated points sequence in the competition, reaching the 3rd Round versus Bonymaen home on December the 9th.

 

Ystalyfera gave away 12 penalties:

3 offside, 4 illegal hands on ball, 1 in scrum, 2 in from side, 1 over the top and 1 high tackle.

 

Llandudno gave away 9 penalties;

4 offside, 3 illegal hands on ball and 2 scrum offences.

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