Fixture

The quality of play in this important Quarter Final game was something many of the large crowd had not seen for some time. Both sides were totally committed and the game was played in the best traditions of a local derby. And fair play all round.
The early stages saw the Sports camped in the Pontyclun half for a good 10 minutes with James Donovan at scrum half getting his threes moving and recycling ball well. Chris Walker looked to have been tackled without the ball as he and Josh Davies threatened the Pontyclun line. The visitors were forced into a handling error and Josh Davies opened the scoring for the Sports with an easy penalty. From a 22 metre kick out by Pontyclun James Donovan finds Josh Davies in the center and he chips over the advancing threes, gathers his own chip and races to the line untouched for a brilliant individual try that he then converts and after 15 minutes the Sports have a 10 point lead.

But to this point in the game the Sports have not had to defend and the Pontyclun backs look very strong and fast and now they, with some possession start to ask some questions of the Sports defence. This results in a penalty to the visitors and they shorten the lead to 10-3 when the fly half strikes a good kick. The next attack by Pontyclun is as good as any the Sports have launched and by widening the ball to the left wing Tom Green flies over for a fine but unconverted try.

The Sports then renew their attack and after repeated infringments the ref shows a yellow card to a Pontyclun forward and Josh Davies extends the home team’s lead to 13-8. We then see the Sports back row of Wilson, Gill and Rees go into overdrive mode as they chase down a kick ahead and it is tight-side wingforward, Dewi Rees who charges down an attempted clearance, gathers the ball and runs 30 metres for another great individual try. Davies adds the points as the half ends 20-8.

The second half sees Pontyclun although still a player short, put the Sports under pressure on the Sports try line and it is their turn to grab a charge down that bounces awkwardly for everyone but is scrambled for an untidy try in the corner for Huw Probyn. The kick fails and the lead is shortened to 20-13. This is something of a wake up call to the Sports who now pile on the pressure with the forwards Donnelly, Obbard and Wilson all making good ground. The threes tackle well and shut down the Pontyclun backs time and time again. Gethyn Rosser-Stanford looking solid in defence as well as a threat with his speed.

After 10 minutes it’s Josh Davies again with his boot that puts the Sports two scores ahead to 23-13 when Pontyclun handle illegally on the deck. When the Sports have a series of penalties, good captainship by Greg Thomas directs his side to a field position 5 metres form the visitors line and with all the forwards smuggling the ball and driving well it is Lloyd Wilson who gets an important touch down. The kick fails and at 28-13 the Sports scent a victory is close. However, Pontyclun are a good side and do not give up. It takes well judged  use of substitutes by the Sports coaches to control the advancing Pontyclun army in the last ten minutes of the game. Alun Evans for the Sports at number 8 makes an impack with a great run from his own line, just failing to unload as he is stopped on the half way line.

Another substitute, Darren Lewis also makes an impact when he replaces James Donovan and following a darting break he trots the ball to the corner putting Pontyclun once more on the back foot. His quick distribution from the next breakdown give just enough space for Lloyd Roderick the drive over for the final try of the game and with the conversion by Davies it takes the Sports to 35 point which Josh Davies has scored 20 of.

It would be difficult to separate anyone as Man of the Match but in the view of our Sponsor Jonathan Chinn it was livewire Dewi Rees who collected the accolade.
But this was a full squad win in the true meaning of it. Credit to the captain and the coaches for a well prepared team in every respect.

We now wait fro the Semi-final draw for a game due to be played on 30 March at a venue to be decided.