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22 January 2008
Ynysddu v Caldicot
Ynysddu new it was going to be difficult going to top of the table Caldicot with no recognised scrum half available. But when they saw the condition of the pitch after all the rain it was also very obvious that any mistakes were going to be costly.
Coach, Grant Robson stepped into bridge the gap left by regular scrum half's Byron Williams and Craig Huish, and he revealed in the challenge. Luckily for him Shane Rees was at no.8 and for the second match in succession he had an outstanding game, his handling in atrocious conditions was exceptional. Time and again he cleaned up bad ball and somehow managed to get over the gain line. The big no.8 is really making a name for himself at Ynysddu.
The Dee's couldn't have had a worse possible start, with the ref's whistle still ringing in their ears from the kick off they tried to play the sort of rugby you would normally associate with perfect conditions. Not surprisingly the ball was dropped and the home side were gifted a run in from close range. The visitors then settled down to the job in hand and doggedly held on until a minute from half time before leaking another score, this time from a pushover try. Only being 10 - nil down and having faced the playing the wind and driving rain Ynysddu must have thought they were in with a real chance of another upset.
In the second half the Dee's used the elements to great effect putting Caldicot under a lot of pressure and it was not long before they got points on the board with a penalty by Martin Gleadall. High up and unders were the order of the day and the home side were finding it difficult getting out of their half. The game swung back in Caldicots favour after a rare incursion into the Dee's 25 and from a scrum near the line they squeezed in at the corner for a third try. Ynysddu's reply was to put together a fine passage of play before Robson and Dickie Gray worked wing Shaun Meyrick into some space and the speedy winger raced in at the corner.
With the condition of the pitch getting worse, it was difficult to tell one mud covered player from another so any ball on the floor seemed fare game. A penalty to Caldicot saw the Dee's punished further for disputing the decision and this gave the home side a last chance for a bonus point. They kicked for the corner ,won the line out and from a rolling maul gained their forth try, which was converted. Final score 22 - 8. Simple mistakes cost Ynysddu dear and to bounce back next week at home against Llanhilleth they will hope to have the tenacity of Byron Williams back in the backs and the experience of Rhys Gladwyn in the pack.
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