CWMLLYNFELL RFC

Cwms first visit to Tennant Park for over 20 years resulted, after a tense first half, in a fine win for the Blues who moved up to third in the table. Newly Promoted Skewen kicked off in bright sunshine and took the game to Cwm who were pinned back in their half with the heavy Skewen pack proving a handful in the early scrums but looking limited behind. Cwm were however much faster in their game plan and at the breakdown and with the lineout working well. Cwm took control with only questionable decisions from the ref denying R Deakin and T Lewis breakaway tries. Cwm continued with a fast tempo running game keeping the ball in play but an unforced error on the half way let Skewen kick ahead and set up a maul under the Cwm posts and only a somewhat professional foul by Capt A Sturl denied Skewen. Sturl was sent to the bin for his sins and C Thomas edged Skewen ahead. With Cwm down to 14 men Skewen pressed but played a dour back row game driving around their scrum which was easily contained by the visitors and Skewen failed to take the adavantage as Jim Morgan saved Cwm on the try line winning the ball on the ground. With 5 minutes left to half time Sturl rejoined the game and Cwm after a P Thomas long kick upfield gained a line out . Cwm won the ball which went loose but Nic Dijanovic reclaimed the ball, saw the gap and sliced through the home defence from 25 yards to score his 3rd try in six games .Thomas added the extras and Cwm ended the half 3-7 ahead.

Cwm kicked off long to start the second half. Skewen infringed from the restart and Thomas stroked over the penalty. Cwm then slowly took
control up front and Skewen had no answer for Cwm’s expansixe game. An inspired substitution by coaches Harries and Evans saw O Williams come on at scrum half and with his first touch Williams split the home defence apart to send G Drewson clear to run in from 30 yards . Thomas added the extras. Cwms forwards joined in the running game and Taz Kelly crashed over to put the game safe . Thomas again stroked over the extras to make it 4 from 4 on the day before being replaced by fit again R James. Skewen rallied and never gave up but with only a limited game plan a forward up your jumper approach was never going to work and their only reward was a late try way out by no 8 S Jeremy. Cwm pressed and went for a bonus pint but were denied by a combination of some good defence and the ref’s whistle. A fine win on the road for Cwm with good performances all round and outstanding contributions by wing forward D Jones, centre T Manning, Hooker A Jones and subs J Spurway, O Williams and C Dunnell.

Final Score Skewen 8 - Cwm 24