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Rhymney 7 Deri 22

​Another sunny Saturday, another local derby in fine spirit, and a second successive promotion for phoenix club Deri, who were all but dead a few years back, but have shown the way back in style and with this win snatched the Division Three (E) B title from fellow promotees Blaina.

To the credit of themselves and the league, the young Brewers side made them go all the way for the win, and had the Broncos needed a bonus point for the title it would have been even more nervy: indeed, Rhymney had a good deal of the play during the second half, without the penetration to really rattle the high-fliers.

The Broncos started strongly, and while the home tackling was better than at Hafodyrynys, there was enough worry about the first-up variety to keep the visitors on the front foot, and they got over from a typical rumbling pack move for an unconverted try after a few minutes. There was some scrambling by the Brewers to stay in the game at that stage, but they did so and despite a bit of a scrum slide got some ball away.

Both sides missed chances through dodgy handling, and Deri's eight drove on together at every opportunity, bringing a spirited response from the Brewers' young outfit, who were far from overawed. However, a similar Bronco score, the pack battering away from close range, was converted this time, making it 12-0 at the interval.

Joey Buckley and particularly the elusive Kyron Moss went strongly for Rhymney, there were some probing grubbers from Liam Davies and charges from Rhys Watkins, Connor Gregory, Joel Edwards, Chris Richards and Co., but it was Deri who went further ahead with another trademark pounce round the fringes (pictured) at 17-0. This followed another silly penalty concession by the hosts.

The Brewers hit back, forcing deliberate sin-bin knock-ons and building pressure, but not managing that clinical cutting edge other than when lively Callum Merrick burst over for Davies to convert. There were hopes of more, but instead it was Deri who turned over halfway lineout ball and swept determinedly round the blindside to create the best score of the day and secure a bonus point too.

It came late on, in front of the large, cheery and noisy neighbouring crowd, all the more atmospheric as it was on the Park's upper pitch, the main ground being used for a successful Minis and Jumiors tournament.Andrew Barnett on permit, Morgan Davies, Keaton Pardoe, Callum Ryan and Daley Morris all got on as subs, but Deri had secured the spoils in a deserved title triumph, and took the trophy from the WRU's District A Diector Bryn Parker. Well done!

It was good to see a turnout of Former Park Players for Meredydd James' Jolly Boys Day Out, and as the pictures at https://1drv.ms/f/s!Atk_WskrKMfqh_5Ywg39-zI6YejIyQ​  show, great old forwards have no hair at all. (Meredydd does!!) Rhymney's last game comes at Markham on Wednesday, with the kick off now at 7.00 p.m., when inspirational stepping-down coach Sean Murphy will doubtless be looking for another stirring show from his developing charges to bring down the curtain with some style. Cheers, Akky.

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