Fixture

Over the past few years we have been very much “even Stevens” with Taff’s Well, having been in the same division as them for 4 of the past 5 seasons and playing them twice in the WRU bowl so a healthy rivalry has built up. With this in mind, Saturday’s match was viewed by many as another local derby. However, Taff’s Well, with several players unavailable, did not put up the usual challenge and the home team ran out deserved winners.

Abercwmboi started strongly and after a series of penalties captain Lee Jarvis opted for a scrum 5 metres from the visitors’ goal line. When the home pack drove the Taff’s Well pack over their own line the scrum collapsed, and the referee immediately awarded a penalty try. From the restart Abercwmboi were soon back on the attack and scrum half Geraint Cutlan finished off a great move by touching down in the corner to bring the score to 12 – 0. This saw Taff’s Well rally and really take the game to their hosts and they were rewarded with a try and a penalty of their own to make the score 12 – 8. This was followed shortly afterwards with one of the Abercwmboi forwards being Yellow carded, which seemed to galvanise the home team and Geraint Cutlan kicked a penalty to increase the lead. Just before half time wing Mathew Jones finished a good team try and Cutlan added the conversion to give Abercwmboi a lead of 20 – 8 going into the second half.

The home team started off the second half strongly and after 5 minutes Matty Jones added to his, and the team’s, score with another try, giving them a try bonus point. The second half was a tighter affair with no-one troubling the scoreboard until 15 minutes from the end when Matty Jones completed his hat trick and Geraint Cutlan converting. However, Taff’s Well had the final word when they scored a try with only 5 minutes left to bring the score to 34 – 15.