Fixture

The Quarter-Final Round of the Welsh Plate saw Ystalyfera entertain East Central side Rumney for the first time at Ynysydarren. Having been knocked out of the same competition away at Rumney last season the ‘Fera were wary of a difficult encounter. The pitch was soft with little water and the sun was out. Ystalyfera fielded an unchanged side other than Emyr Myers for current season top try scorer Luc Caines, who suffered a serious leg injury away at Seven Sisters. Home side kicked off towards the Swansea end, and ‘Fera made the first attack from a line out on the Rumney 22. The first penalty was awarded for a bad tackle and outside half Gareth James converted in the 2^nd minute, opening the score: 3 – 0. Ystalyfera continued on the offensive and from a catch and drive a penalty was given away by the backs for crossing. Rumney on their first attack, moved the ball quickly along their backs leaving winger Solomon Mathews with little defence in front of him and he scored the first try in the 7^th minute. Outside half Danny Clark converted: score 3 – 7. The restart saw the first scrum which the ‘Fera pack won convincingly. Competition now ensued in midfield with both sides looking to control the game and find gaps. Moving into the ‘Garage’ corner full back Steffan Castle made an excellent clearance kick, and a move by Rumney from the resulting four man line out was stopped by a dropped ball. Rumney still coming forward were stopped by a Gareth James tackle but his attempt to gather the ball resulted in a penalty. Danny Clark converted with a good kick: 24^th minute score 3 – 10. Ystalyfera forwards now came into action to recoup the score by driving into the visitors territory.  Pressure from a 5m scrum under the posts buckled the Rumney defence and ‘Fera captain and No8 Steffan Jones scored the first home try in the 34^th minute, conversion was missed score 8 – 10. Back into the corner and further ‘Fera pressure was defended with good tackles until a Rumney prop was yellow carded for dangerous play in the 38^th minute. Ystalyfera forwards were now relentless and scrum, penalty, scrum in the Rumney 22 finally paid dividends when scrum half Nathan Cornelius saw a gap and scored a crash ball try in the 40+3 minute. Half time score 13 – 10. 

Rumney started the second half all guns blazing and quickly moved the ball away from the forwards. Shifting play from one wing to the other they scored a commendable second try by No11 Michael Benton after barley 2 minutes. This was not converted: score 13 – 15. With the lead regained Rumney now played with confidence, Ystalyfera having to defend resolutely. The home pack were solid however and the visitors were not getting easy ball. In the 52^nd minute ‘Fera full back Steffan Castle kicked a penalty to again change the lead 16 – 15. Attempts by both sides to retain the ball lead to a scrappy spectacle. Rumney were attempting drop goals at every opportunity and slowly moved events into the home 22. Eventually a penalty chance came in the 61^st minute but was missed. This seemed to galvanise Ystalyfera and from a catch and drive line out, the backs launched an attack allowing centre Jonathan Bayliss to run in the third home try. This was converted by Gareth James lifting the score to 23 – 15. Rumney were certainly not giving up and they lifted themselves to narrow the lead. The game focussed in the home 22 and attack after attack were having to be stopped by the ‘Fera defence. In the 76^th minute replacement front row Chris Milton was powered over the tryline for the third Rumney try. This was not converted, score: 23 – 20. Rumney now wanted to continue and finish the job but Ystalyfera were having none of it. From the restart two good line kicks by the home back three took the game into the ‘school’ corner. Form a 5m line out the ball came to flanker Jesse Patton, who seeing a space in the Rumney line dived across to score the fourth ‘Fera try in the 80+4 minute. This was well converted by Steffan Castle to leave a final score 30 – 20.

Two good Division One sides provided an outstanding game for loyal and neutral supporters alike. Both gave each other every respect and complemented the quarter-final of the Welsh Plate. Ystalyfera will now meet Abercarn in the Semi-Final - Saturday 25th March.

Penalty counts were 15 for Ystalyfera and 9 against.