Unbeaten run is maintained (From Penarth Times)

Unbeaten run is maintained

Treherbert 14 Dinas Powys 16

DINAS POWYS continued their early season success with a fine victory at The Cage, Treherbert.

In what turned out to be a great battle, the Villagers showed that they are now a team as they battled to defend their lead against a determined Rhondda outfit, looking for a quick return to division three.

With little more than ten minutes remaining, Treherbert looked dead and buried, with Dinas opening their lead to 16-0, but with gritty determination Treherbert fought back.

The Villagers, though, were equally determined to maintain their undefeated record in Division Four East this season and came away with the points. Not many teams will win at Tynewydd Park this season.

The referee was late arriving due to his car breaking down, so the kick-off was delayed by some minutes. When the battle did commence it was a slow and disjointed start to the game, with Treherbert seemingly more interested in stopping the Villagers from playing rugby.

Dinas were awarded three early penalties, David Evans narrowly missing with the only kickable one after four minutes.

A haymaker, which resulted in Ian Adams having stitches above his eye, set off a mass brawl after 10 minutes and injury was avoided to Chris OBrien when a punch from behind failed to do any serious damage.

David Evans put the Villagers ahead 3-0 from the resulting penalty.

The skirmishes continued after this before Neil George and D Thomas, of Treherbert, were consigned to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. This action settled the teams down for the remainder of the first half.

David Evans was just wide with another penalty chance before the Villagers extended their lead when scrum-half Chris OBrien produced a superb drop goal.

This completed the scoring in the first half, Dinas thoroughly deserving their 6-0 advantage. Centre Phil Young had to leave the field after nine minutes of the restart with an injured leg, which resulted in a major reshuffle.

Club skipper Stuart Pyeman made his return as replacement after a three week absence at blind-side flanker, with Richard Collins moving to unfamiliar territory on the wing.

The Villagers soon after scored their only try of the game when a ruck formed as Chris OBrien was held just short. Dinas held on to position and flanker Carl Attley picked up and drove over for a try the Villagers deserved. David Evans landed the conversion for a 13-0 lead after 52 minutes.

David Evans was a particular target of Treherbert, being late tackled on a number of occasions, but he continued to play well and control the game from outside half. With just over ten minutes remaining David Evans added a second penalty for a seemingly conclusive 16-0 lead.

Treherbert seemed to realise that they had to start playing. After 74 minutes the ball was passed out to wing Paul Williams who eluded Graham Matthews to score in the corner. Gareth Roberts landed a fine touch-line conversion and suddenly Treherbert were within two scores of victory.

As they pressed, the ball was taken into touch by Dinas and Treherbert took a quick, if controversial throw in. From the ensuing confusion the ball bounced kindly for flanker Alwyn Pryce to score under the posts, leaving a simple conversion for Gareth Roberts.

This meant an agonising five minutes of injury time for the large following from Dinas Powys to face. The whole team though played valiantly in these dying moments and tackled everything.

The discipline was also superb as they gave nothing away to the Rhondda outfit. As the home side became desperate a kick for the corner was picked up by Graham Matthews who ran into opposition on his own 25.

In the ensuing ruck Graham was kicked in the head, which resulted in five stitches to a nasty wound.

Dinas were awarded a penalty from this situation and David Evans gratefully put the ball into touch, and the Villagers were able to celebrate another victory.

This was a fine team performance against difficult and experienced opposition. The front row of man of the match Dai Morgan, Neil George and Ian Adams should have special praise as they dominated the Treherbert front row.

Mark Rowley and unsung hero Gareth Phillips again performed superbly in the engine room, whilst full-back Jon Jenkins put in a solid performance at full back.

TAFFS WELL 18pts DINAS POWYS 18pts

The Seconds, with a break from league action this week, travelled to Taffs Well where they fought out an 18-18 draw.

Here too the opposition staged a fine recovery with the Villagers leading 18-5 at half-time. Taffs Well brought on a few replacements during the second half and this helped them stage a fine recovery.

Terry Harris, returning from a jaunt to Mexico, scored both the Dinas tries, with Rhys Williams adding two penalty goals and converting one of the tries. Andy Veaseys kicking ability from open play was again brought into question, while Gary Reid late tackled in the melee.

Andrew Palmer made a come-back at hooker, after several years absence from the game, and he produced a credible performance in the position. Chris Daw also deserves a mention for his failure to duck when faced with a Taffs Well haymaker.

DINAS POWYS 32pts CARDIFF HARLEQUINS 19pts

The Thirds entertained Cardiff Harlequins on the Common and came away with their first victory of the season. Youngster Peter Blackman was again one of the heroes with two tries and a conversion, whilst veteran Bomber Smith was amongst the other try scorers.

Steve Windsor was also amongst the scorers along with Johnny Welsh and Matthew Reid. Glen Webbe made a surprise come back as a second half replacement.

There was also a father and son combination when Adam Williams joined father Tony as a second half replacement. Adams box-kick was the catalyst for Peter Blackmans second try.

With Wales playing Ireland next week there is no game on the Common. The Firsts have to play away to Pontycymmer in the next round of the cup. Kick-off for this is yet to be arranged, though Sunday would seem the most likely option.