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WRU BOWL: Newport Sarries 17 Rhymney 24

This was a hard-fought and deserved WRU Bowl away win at a Newport Saracens side who lead the Division below the Brewers and who grew in confidence during the game: partly through Rhymney errors as well as their own skills. A strong start by Liam Davies’ side suggested a very profitable afternoon, quick thinking, sharp running and finishing bringing tries for full back Kyron Moss and Davies himself, both of which he converted as well as adding a huge penalty. The Brewers, who had useful newer faces in wing Jonny Lewis and lock Corey Burton, were scrummaging strongly too, and pack leader Callum Merrick won line out ball as well as his usual contribution in the loose. Discipline (another yellow) and some of the handling were was not the best, though, on either side, and some chances went begging. Another score would have wrapped it up, perhaps, but instead a Sarries incursion into the Rhymney half saw the ball twice shoot out of set pieces on the blindside, fooling the defence and the unsighted ref who missed the knock on as the home flanker profited. An unconverted try - luckily the Sarries kicking from ground and restarts was poor all day – made it 17-5 as the Brewers turned to face the wind. Fly half Huw Reynolds had distributed well in the first half but as the hosts grew into the game up front and exploited slips and a large number of  penalties at the breakdown, a pattern of kicks to the corner and powerful rolling mauls tested the Rhymney defence. One was rolled over the line for a converted try, and at 17-12 it got scrappy and more tense. There was no lack of spirit, though, or of subs as Ieuan Breen, Scott Smith, Chrissie Richards and Ollie Hughes were amongst those coming on. Centre Joey Buckley’s pace and strength set up Breen for a corner try, again beautifully improved by Davies (to  make the difference on the day)but then the Sarries’ right wing belied his stature and appearance with a terrific long solo run (like a Jack Donegan!) to bring it back to 17-24. The hosts piled on the pressure but with Davies leading from the front, the scrum hoisting their opponents and Moss and Connor Gregory, despite knocks, tackling well, the spirited young Brewers held on to advance to the next round of the Bowl. On Saturday, though, there’s the small local matter of a trip to New Tredegar for a League deny. Remember the two tight clashes last year?! One other note was the clubhouse meeting of hookers: ex-Sarries and British Lions’ Bobby Windsor and ex-Brewers’ striker and Sec Dale Zdzieblo. Apparently both of them have long been the other’s hero…….?

Pictures are at this link:  https://1drv.ms/f/s!Atk_WskrKMfqiPloM1ZjTbBMazHYbA   Cheers, Akky.