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15 October 2018 / Club News

Ystrad Take Points Late On In District Derby

Beddau 17  Ystrad Rhondda 20

Match report by Lynn West

 

If Carlsberg made frustration… at least the weather was kind!

A much anticipated clash between the in-form Ystrad and a Beddau side for whom losing has become a habit did not disappoint in terms of action, intensity and endeavour on the field even delivering a result that would have pleased the pundits.  Ystrad hung on and produced a match-winning moment which provided the hard won points and it is difficult to begrudge that.

With James Davies and Kieran Gay fulfilling work commitments and Hywel Chatham away for the weekend the coaches had secured the services of full back James Grainger and centre Josh Smith.  Unfortunately Smith failed to arrive and reserve hooker Tom Geere was called from the bench to fill the centre vacancy.  Tom has now quietly racked up 30 first team appearances and is the consummate clubman.

James Grainger was instantly into the game when Beddau`s first sorty brought a penalty and the young full back was on target.  Beddau were in dominant form in the early exchanges but when a scrum was driving the Rhondda side backwards blind side Thomas Jevons grappled with Sam Tiley and would not release his grip.  Referee Andrew Moule felt that a yellow card to each would best settle the issue.

Too much ground was being claimed by Beddau to let the impetus go and when another driving scrum was advancing inexorably to the try line Ystrad scrum half Jack Foulkes, from an offside position hacked at the ball and the referee unhesitatingly awarded a Penalty Try.

It is a common feature of the game these days for elements of the crowd to engage in banter.  This is generally good natured ribaldry and the recipient is usually the visiting player nearest the stand side touchline.  On this occasion that player happened to be Jay Harris recently of this parish and some of the ribaldry sadly descended into cruelty.  Harris, fortunately, has the character to cope and he soon got above some early handling errors that had helped to fuel his tormentors.

A kick through from Rhys Truelove, another former Green and Gold, set off a footrace and for Beddau the sad and frustrating sight of another injury when Carl Lewis went down as though shot, an evident victim of a hamstring injury which is likely to keep Carl sidelined for a while.

Ystrad enjoyed a little territory for a while and when a gap was engineered Jack Foulkes raced through for a try converted by Rhys Truelove.  Soon Beddau, having already seen Jack Secher on for Carl Lewis, had lost the industrious Jordan Goodwin with Dan Watkins becoming a first half replacement for the second consecutive home game.

Half time arrived at 10-7 but with Ystrad Rhondda surviving on scraps with the consoling fact being that they would have the advantage of the wind in the second period.  At the restart Owain Cotter appeared for Beddau instead of Cody Baker and before that information had been digested an offside in midfield gave Rhys Truelove a shot at goal which he gratefully accepted.

Again, though, it was Beddau moving through the gears with Callum Wheeler varying the game from outside half and keeping Ystrad pinned down.  Some of Beddau`s distribution was haphazard though, allowing their opponents off the hook.  When the forwards essayed a thundering drive in the loose the referee`s frequent exhortations not to pull down were ignored.  A Penalty Try was awarded and tight head David Webb went to the bin.

At 17-10 Beddau looked comfortable but when Ystrad lock Nathan Hughes leapt to deflect a pass aimed at Owain Cotter the presence of Webb on the naughty step may have influenced Mr Moule`s decision to stop short at a knock-on and a scrum.  Beddau drove on though and when Callum Wheeler`s neat kick set up another driving maul Ben White emerged and, spotting an advancing defender, delayed his try-scoring pass to the point where a Beddau attacker had advanced and the referee called “crossing”.

Ystrad set up a position in the Beddau half and drew a penalty which Truelove goaled.  From a lineout at halfway Ystrad were allowed to advance.  Full back Corey Shephard had overlapped but though Owain Cotter had tackled him into touch no flag was raised and from a scramble for the ball centre Ryan Howells burst for the line for a poorly positioned referee to signal the score.  Rhys Truelove`s conversion ended matters to the great delight of Ystrad Rhondda and a further dose of what should have been for Beddau.

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