Fixture

Waunarlwydd RFC | 1st Team 43 - 13 Resolven RFC | 1st Team
Nick Jones
Conversion 1
Try 1
Samuel Timothy Pridgeon
Try 1
Stuart Nicholas
Try 1
Adam Mort
Try 1
Craig Jenkins
Try 1
Lee Evans
Conversion 4
Penalty 1
Try 1
Shaun Tennant
1 Conversion
2 Penalty
1 Try

Match Report
03 September 2017 / Team News

Waunarlwydd v Resolven | 2nd Sept 17

Waun Kicked off the new season, welcoming Resolven RFC to Roseland Road to open the 2017/18 season. Waun have added former Swansea RFC captain Dai Watts to their home grown coaching team, after 13 years service for the Whites, and it was a perfect afternoon to implement the new expansive game plan that the coaching team have worked hard on with the players throughout the summer. Waun included former players Andrew Rees – Spowart and Sam Pridgeon in the back three, returning to the club after a couple of seasons at Tata Steel and Cwmavon respectively, as well as welcoming back Stuart Nicholas in the centre who had an injury struck 16/17 season and were captained from No.8 by Steffan Jones, in his third season as club captain.  

Waun won the toss, and after a one minute silence was impeccably observed for the tragic loss of Bev Evans the previous weekend, Waun Kicked off towards the Gate end. Resolven fielded this well and started the game brightly, when a 40 metre plus break by J. Fields was halted illegally at the ruck resulting in a Resolven Penalty inside the Waun 22, which outside half I. Tennant knocked over for 0-3 to the away team. Waun woke up and after a good kick chase were unfortunate to concede a penalty to which Resolven opted to kick to touch. Waun sacked the driving maul and some great defensive work by Captain S. Jones and loose head C. Seeley, resulted in possession being turned over and good hands from the backs got the momentum going,. R. Cherry hitting an excellent angle of C. Seeley but it was adjudged forward by the Referee. A scrum penalty was conceded by Resolven resulting in a quick Tap and go from Scrum half L. Evans, and after good build up play by the Waun pack carrying strongly, into the opposition 22, A. Mort carried strongly off outside half Nick Jones and beat a couple of defenders before he deftly offloaded to fellow centre S. Nicholas to dot down to the left of the posts, L. Evans added the extras for 7-3 to Waun after 9 Minutes. Waun won a penalty from the kick off and kicked for the Resolven 22, Resolven turn the line out over and Kick long fielded by S. Pridgeon who knocks on after a good attempt to run it back, Waun win a further Penalty following the scrum after good Defensive work By J. Cleary. L. Evans pumps the ball long into the Resolven 22 and they are penalised for an early jump, Waun go quick and move it through the hands, and the ball is unconventionally bounce passed to left wing Sam Pridgeon who finishes excellently stepping the cover and beating two other would be defenders. L. Evans pushed the conversion just wide of the right hand upright and its 12-3 to Waun on 16 mins. Resolven win a couple of pens and make strong inroads into the Waun 22, but excellent defence from Seeley again and J. Blackmore forces a knock on in the act of scoring by Resolven loose head M. Ralph. Waun clear their lines and win the Penalty for Resolven 7 not releasing. Waun go quick and is stopped illegally and the referee marches Resolven back 10 yards. Waun go for the line out and it is deemed not straight, Resolven win a penalty from the resulting scrum and go long. Some inroads are made by the away team and their forwards are exerting some good pressure in the Waun 22, but Waun turn the ball over and kick long, Resolven 14 fields this and kicks out on the full. The game breaks up a little following injuries to J. Cleary (replaced by C. Jenkins) and Resolven wing L. Williams (replaced by G. Bennett). Waun have the scrum on halfway, but are turned over and Resolven kick long and is fielded by S. Pridgeon who runs it back well, Waun then produce the best move of the game from the resulting ruck with D. Moyle, S. Jones and hooker R. Cherry all combining skilfully to send fly half Nick Jones over in style into Waun corner, much to the delight of the home support. ‘Clous’ picked himself up just in time, after winding himself in the act of scoring, to see his Scrum half Evans nail the touchline conversion to give Waun a 19-3 halftime lead, unfortunately losing strong carrying back rower Jacob Blackmore in the process following a nasty cut to his knee.

Starting the Second half, Resolven kicked to the Gate End, and Waun started where they left off in the first half.  Dan Moyle fielded the KO and offloaded well to his support C. Jenkins who blazed up field…the ball is offloaded at the next ruck by loose head Seeley on the inside channel to his Skipper Steffan Jones, who in turn offloads to hooker Cherry into space. Cherry draws the covering fullback and puts inside centre Adam mort under the sticks, for Scrum half Evans to add the extras for 26-3 on 41 minutes. Waun are playing with confidence and another attempted run out by the excellent Alex Tregembo, results in a forward pass and the momentum is stopped, as Resolven try to slow the tempo down of the game. Athletic Captain G. Smith replaces R. cherry on 45 mins, and Resolven begin to click into gear. Replacement No.8 J. Healy makes a searing 25 yard break down the blind, and the ball is recycled for Resolven 12 D Bowen to Breach the Waun defence, fullback Spowart hauls him Down but can’t stop the offload to the Resolven 10 to dot down to the right of the posts. I. Tennant converts his own score. Waun try to get some forward momentum and Skipper Jones carries hard, but Waun are unfortunate to concede a string of penalties and find themselves forced back into their own half. Waun Concede an offside Penalty to the right of the sticks, which Resolven fly half Tennant kicks to bring them within two scores at 26-13. Waun tighten up their game and after good offloading from A Tregembo to S Nicholas force a penalty to which Skipper Jones opts to go for the corner. The Waun pack get a good drive going with some positive forward momentum, however, the referee adjudges holding on the floor and gives the away side the opportunity to clear their lines. Waun turn the resulting line out over and are awarded a kickable penalty on the opposition 10 Yard line, which scrum half Evans kicks for 29-13. L. Lamb replaces S.Pridgeon and is immediately involved as Resolven kick long form the KO, and great hands from the replacement inside to S. Nicholas, who finds Flanker C. Jenkins who races away, handing the full back off in the process and dotting down beneath the posts. L Evans Converts for 36-13 to the Rams. Waun had to withstand some exerted pressure from the Resolven pack and defended excellently, with replacements D George, flanker Jenkins and tight head Porter defending resolutely, Waun refused to be broken down and eventually following two offside penalties, turn the line out over and clear, but don’t make touch. Resolven run it back but knock on in the process. From the Scrum S. Jones carries hard, supported well by Lamb who frees the ball inside to fullback Spowart, who offloads to scrum half Evans who races clear to score. Fly Half Jones adds the extras and its game over at 43-13. Resolven exert some final pressure but the excellent Waun defence hold out and the last play results in a Waun penalty, which Lee Evans kicks out to bring the entertaining contest to a close.

Waun produced a strong defence display with Resolven having some powerful forward runners, an excellent display from the whole 23 who were stretched at times with injuries. Notable performances from Skipper Jones, Seeley, Blackmore and Lee Evans but the official man of the match for an excellent defensive display was wing Alex Tregembo who added plenty in attack despite not getting on the score sheet. Waun travel to Bonymaen next weekend in the double header with the Athletic welcoming the Bonymaen 2nd XV to Roseland Road.

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