Fixture

Dowlais RFC | 1st Team 8 - 10 Risca RFC | 1st Team
Ben Murphy
1 Conversion
Owain Biddiscombe
1 Penalty
Rhys Meredith
1 Try

Match Report
10 December 2018 / Team News

Dowlais 8 - Risca 10

Match report by Clive James

Risca arrived at Dowlais looking to make amends for last weeks defeat by bottom club Hartridge.Adam Jones came in at tighthead with Jordan Rogers dropping to the bench,Elliot Bateman was at 2nd.row and Mike Preece returned at no.8 with Callum Coughlin moving to blindside.Behind the scrum Morgan Smith replaced Andrew Fraser on the left wing.

With a strong gusting wind it was apparent the game was going to be decided on who coped with the conditions the best and thats exactly how it panned out.

Risca kicked off with the wind at their backs and immediately put the homeside under pressure.Two early penalty attempts were missed and although Risca continued to press they could not get over the goalline.Dowlais eventually relieved the onslaught and from a lineout drove over for a try which went unconverted.The remainder of the half saw both defences holding firm and half time came with no further score.

The tactic that was expected from Dowlais playing with the elements of their ten kicking into the Risca 22 and the defence having to withstand the picking and driving play never materialised as the visiting pack kept a stranglehold on possession not allowing the homeside out of their half.But for all the dominence and with the clock ticking down the whitewash was not being crossed until eventually it was the captain Rhys Meredith who forced his way over for the all important try which Ben Murphy added the extras.

It was now all about keeping the ball and seeing the game out.Dowlais then put a kick up into the Risca 22 which was fielded by Ben Pesci who had a rush of blood to the head by trying to loop a long pass out only to see possession turned over a penalty being conceded and the Dowlais no.10 putting over the kick from wide out to regain the lead with just minutes remaining.The dozen supporters who had travelled looked resigned to the fact that another bottom club were going to take the points after their team had been so in control.

Risca kicked off and with the light fading was there enough time left to salvage this game.With coach Matthew Veater calling for the ball to be kept the visitors made their way to just outside the home 22 near touch where Dowlais infringed.With Ben Murphy off the field the ball was given to Biddy who lined up the kick knowing that it was the final play.Was it missing the upright,it was until a gust of wind blew it over.Biddy was lost in a sea of black and amber jerseys and the game was won 10pts.-8.

The message from the coaches was taken onboard by the Risca side with the forwards superb.Adam Jones was prominent with his scrummaging,Mike Preece was aggressive with ball in hand and with his tackling,Rhys Norville won good lineout ball and was good around the field but Man of the Match was a player who has had little game time this season due to injury Elliot Bateman.

Penallta are the visitors next saturday.Kick off 2.00pm.

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