Fixture

Welsh Cup Semi-Final at Llantrisant RFC

CRUMLIN 27 Pontardawe 3

Everyone involved with Crumlin RFC would like to wish the Pontardawe player injured in the last play of this game a speedy and safe recovery.

After last year’s historic appearance on the Principality Stadium in the final of the Welsh Cup, Crumlin travelled to neutral Llantrisant RFC with the same semi-final opponents as last season awaiting them in the form of Pontardawe RFC.  Last year’s convincing scoreline hid what all Crumlin knew.  Pontardawe flew at Crumlin for most of the first half and the game only went away from then in the second period as the tries flowed for Crumlin. Today was going to be so much harder with the teams knowing each other and a number of Crumlin debutants, this season, taking the field.

Crumlin’s support was substantial with a large crowd of travelling supporters.  Cole Jones got the game under way and Crumlin were unlucky that the linesman put his flag down after seeing the Crumlin catcher taken out in mid-air.   As predicted Pontardawe were on point with their play and were soon in the 22.  Their backs looked dangerous and only the covering tackles, particularly of Gethyn Hockey, prevented Pontardawes backline producing the first try.  The ensuing scrum placed an ominous yard stick in the sand for Pontardawe as they were dominated.  Pontardawe did put points on the board first as they converted an excellent penalty in difficult windy conditions.  This was however going to be their only score today.  Pontardawe 3-0.

The Crumlin pack seized the game by the throat from here on in and every scrum was pleasure to watch as Gavin Spencer, Jacob Morgan-Hill and Daniel Lewis gave an absolute master class in the dark art of front row play.  This would be expected from veteran props of 150 and 200 plus appearances for the club.  As a relative novice in his first season at hooker Morgan-Hill has been a revelation.   The front row not only laid waste to their opponents at every set piece, they piled it on heavier and heavier throughout the game till in the second half scrum time meant Crum time.  It seemed in the first half that when Morgan-Hill received a finger to the eye that this may hinder Crumlin’s dominance.  The faithful knew that waiting in the wings was Nathan Evans.  The front rower more accustomed to being the cornerstone of the pack showed his talent as he slotted in between Spencer and Lewis to, incredibly, provide another immovable black and amber unit.  Not only did these three have the scrums to themselves they carried superbly and in Evans had a tackler who was enjoying every big contact.

The forwards took the ball up the side-line with lineouts, rucks and big carrys.  Coles Jones placed the kicks in position to edge into the half, the 22 and then near the line.  The play was taken to the right of the posts and the score was inevitable as Crum tore at the defence.  Kyle Walton smashed his way over to the raptures of the Crowd.  Unfortunately, the referee was unsighted from 2 metres away by Walton and his lone tackler.  It was judged to be held up over the line despite Waltons clear placement of the ball visible to the whole touchline.  There was an air of inevitability at this point and as Crumlin came hammering back at the line Jones fed the juggernaut that is flanker Kiaran Lewis to explode through and touch down.  Ryan Lewis converted to make it 7-3.

Captain Ethan Chess normally sets his line away at every opportunity from 10 but today was Chess playing the more rounded, unpredictable player who placed chip kicks and grubber kicks in front of his team gaining quality metreage on each occasion.  Interspersed with exhilarating moves and long booming touch finders, this wasn’t just good this was Ethan Chess good.

Cole Jones at 9 was massive.  At one point the defensive 8 picked up from his own 5 metre scrum to clear the decks.  What must he have thought as the diminutive scrum half hit him so hard he was knocked backwards, driven over his own line and Jones had also taken out his opposite number in the process.  The ball swang right and was then brought back along the line so that full back Joel Witcombe was brought down just shy of the line.  With Centres Morgan Smith and Ryan Lewis being pounded by the defence as they stood rock solid protecting the ball at the ruck, Jones was through and over the line for Crumlin’s second.  Ryan Lewis’ conversion was held up by the wind and the score was now 12-3 Crumlin.

Full back Witcombe rolled his ankle and despite the forwards running the game today everyone was aware the loss of Witcombe to the team was and knew his attacking prowess would be sorely missed.  Steele Jones was on and was assured both positionally and under the kicks that came his way.  At the same time Steele showed the attacking willingness that all have Crumlin devotees have come to expect.

The full pack had an immense game and second row Jordan Hughes not only supplied the pure grunt to control every scrum but put in a huge amount of tackles which time after time nullified any go forward that Pontardawe could muster.   Hughes’ partner in the row, Gethyn Hockey, had already put in a try saving tackle early on but continued to thwart attempted charges as well as driving his front row colleagues forward and delivering Cole Jones quality possession from the lineout.  Tyler Madden-Smith on the openside was defensively everywhere and in attack always looked dangerous particularly after Cole Jones made break down the Centre of the field to let him have a gallop.

Half time saw a dominant display produce a narrow 12-3 lead.

CHAPTER 2

Pontardwae could not convert a penalty in the howling wind that would have brought them within a score and whilst comfortable in every aspect, the scoreline was still a little nerve racking.   From a five metre driving line out Kyle Walton eased the nerves slightly as he went over, even more clearly this time, for the try to be awarded.  17-3 Crumlin.

Could this be enough especially with the way the front five were controlling things now?  Crumlin brought on Euan Lewis in the back row for Hockey and reshuffled the pack.  Taylor Smith was on for Cole Jones and Corey Strickland moved from wing to full back as Steele Jones came in at 9 to rouse the rampant pack further.  The introduction of Lewis and Taylor was to make the desired impact, in particular, at the end of the game. 

From a turn over at the ruck driving in their own 22 the ball Jones then Chess went to the blindside where Ryan Lewis would have been forgiven for smashing the ball far down field.  Instead the centre took the ball forward to just passed the half way as he had seen the 2 v 1 with wing Dylan Foxwell outside him.  The draw and give was executed perfectly.  Foxwell, the proven finisher with his speed and skills, was left with the fullback racing across field to beat.  There was no doubt that Foxy was the man for the job.  As he has done so many times this season (5 last time out) Foxy hit the turbo and left the defender in his wake.  Crumlin 22-3.

Evan Miles and Cameron Powell were now on as well to do the job of finishing the game for the team.

Ryan Lewis long range penalty attempt was hampered by cramp as he commenced his run up and consequently did not have the distance.  It remained 22-3 to Crumlin.

With time almost up Pontardawe had no option but to run the ball and as they made it to their own 10 metre line one of centre Smith’s bone crushers, allowed Euan Lewis to perform a trademark jackal and turnover.  The ball went through hands sublimely for Taylor Smith to skirt down the touchline and dive in at the Corner. 

CRUMLIN 27 Pontardawe 3.

A Pontardawe player was badly injured in the attempt to stop the final try and so with the Crumlin agreement the referee blew for the end of the match and the final conversion was not attempted.

Both teams thanked the officials for a quality display and the host club for their organisation, facilities and after match meal.  Crumlin would also like to thank Pontardawe for a hard but clean contest with both teams trying to play a brand of rugby that many host supporters lauded as the best game they had seen at their Division 2 pitch this season.

Finally Crumlin returned to their own clubhouse not only to celebrate a return the Principality Stadium in 2 weeks time (Saturday April 8^th) but more importantly the engagement party for outstanding prop Daniel Lewis and his fiancé Carys Jane.  Everyone in the Crumlin Rugby family wish you both health and happiness in your future together.

Team v Pontardawe

15. Joel Witcombe                                         1. Gavin Spencer                             16. Nathan Evans

14. Corey Strickland                                       2. Jacob Morgan-Hill                      17. Connor Powell

13. Ryan Lewis                                                3. Daniel Lewis                                18. Evan Miles

12. Morgan Smith                                          4. Jordan Hughes                             19. Euan Lewis

11. Dylan Foxwell                                           5. Gethyn Hockey                           20. Connor Lloyd

10. Ethan Chess (Captain)                            6. Kiaran Lewis                                21. Steele Jones

9. Cole Jones                                                   7. Tyler Madden-Smith                   22. Dafydd Clisset

                                                                           8. Kyle Walton                                 23. Taylor Smith

                                                                                                                                       24.  George Price

                                                                                                                                       25. Aaron Lloyd