Bedlinog Slideshow
Porth Slideshow
Cefn Coed 2nds 15 Aberdare 2nds 31
With Cefn playing their first game in over three months due to bad weather and a dwindling player pool, the main objective was to get any sort of team out onto the pitch. Unfortunately Cefn were unable to field a recognised front row so the game went underway with passive scrums. Cefn started the game at full speed and were soon seven points to nil up after some fine work by forwards and backs resulting in man of the match Chris Williams being driven over for a close range try which was converted by James Hennessy.
Aberdare were soon level after a mix up in the Cefn defence and lack of game time for Cefn began to show as Aberdare increased their lead. Not to be out done, Cefn scored another try this time Gareth Thomas scoring a fine individual try from all of 55 metres, again converted by J Hennessy. As the game wore on Aberdare further increased their lead with J Hennessy adding 3 points for Cefn but to no avail as Cefn were now dropping like flies so much so that team manager, Tim Twomey, who has plied his trade as lock forward, came on at full back to see the game out.
But the main objective which was to put a team out was fulfilled with team managers Twomey and Driscoll more than happy with the boys’ performance.
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Nelson 2nds 17 Cefn Coed 2nds 24
With Coed Athletic finally taking the field after two months without a game due to bad weather and the November internationals they managed to scrape a side together to entertain a very physical Nelson side who were also low on numbers.
In fact Nelson raced into a 10 0 lead before Cefn managed to get their act together. With Cefn down to 14 men after number 10 Alan Sullivan binned for ten minutes for retaliation after a late tackle. Tries from James Hennessy, Richard (snitch) Jones, Andrew Williams and Darren Gould two of these converted by Callum Regis put Cefn in a commanding position with all the points coming with Nelson up to 15 players.
Team manager and captain for the day Tim Twomey was more than happy just to get a team out onto the park. With so many late withdrawals and call ups to the 1st team squad it was good to put a team out and to win the game was an added bonus.
We had quite a few players playing out of position with winger Andrew Cross stepping up to the forwards and fellow wing Richard (skinnyhead) Jones securing plenty of line out ball after moving into the 2nd row indeed if we can get a few cooked dinners inside him he may well be the find of the season.
Next up is Penygraig away and if we can manage to get a few more players myself and Kevin Driscoll will be more than happy.
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Cefn Coed 2nds 13 Porth 2nds 12
Cefn entertained a very physical Porth side at the Black Patch and eventually ran out winners 13 points to 12.
Both sides had contrasting styles of play with the visitors favouring the catch and drive from the lineout and the hosts the more free flowing running game they are more comfortable with both forwards and backs combining well in all areas of the field.
Although the visitors outscored the hosts two tries to one it was the boot of the Regis boys, Damian and Callum, who secured the victory for Cefn with Callum scoring a penalty and converting a try scored by James Hennessy and Damian putting over a peach of a drop goal which proved to be the winning score.
The management team of Twomey and Driscoll were very pleased with the result and performance and stated afterwards that selection will now be based on training and for everyone to make the effort so the first team coaches will have more to choose from and the Green Army can look forward to a more competitive fight for positions.
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Cefn Coed Athletic 6 Treorchy 2nds 10
With kick off delayed due to the late arrival of Treorchy, Cefn wasted no time and went on the attack straight from the first whistle, and with a bit more patience and composure could have found themselves taking an early lead. As it was, it was the visitors who went into the interval with a 0 3 advantage.
The second half belonged mostly to Cefn but with a try against the run of the game Cefn found themselves further behind. Two penalties converted by the ever improving Callum Regis kept Cefn in the game and with Cefn camped on the visitors line for final ten minutes they could not find the final score to pinch the game.
Cefn can hold their heads up high after pushing a very good Treorchy outfit close. Team manager Tim Twomey said afterwards it was a game we could have and should have won. We were right in it until the end despite our worst performance of the season so far. I hold myself partly to blame as I should have made the substitutions a lot earlier in the game. Myself and Kevin (Driscoll) now have some tough decisions to make: do we keep trying to give everybody a game or set out to win the game first and then make changes?
Hopefully after a players meeting about the numbers in training things will improve and the only way then is up.
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Cefn Coed 2nds 8 Penygraig 2nds 5
The Green Army entertained a very young and useful Penygraig 2nd team outfit in a league fixture at the Black Patch without their talismanic back row forward Ian Jarman. However with inspirational skipper Bob Wilding jnr back from injury and moving back to his old position of lock forward, Cefn took to the field like men possessed after the captain’s rousing team talk.
As usual Cefn gave the opposition a head start but, with Penygraig missing the conversion, Cefn were only five points behind. With veteran fly half Alan Sullivan pulling the strings, Cefn were awarded a penalty which was converted by the powerful centre, Daniel Parry. Cefn then brought on the old head on young shoulders, Geraint Meaker, with the useful Alex Powles moving into the second row.
With time running out Cefn made a number of substitutions with the mercurial Alex Bowen replacing Alan Sullivan, the wiry Aled Jenkins for Daniel Parry, Richard Jones replacing Darren Gould and veteran lock Tim Twomey replacing Richard Jones who had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds before suffering a nasty ruptured cuticle. Cefn soon began making inroads into the oppositions defence and with the last play of the game, a wonderful cross kick by Alex Bowen, put Richard Jones over in the corner to the chants of Green Army ringing around the Black Patch. With the resulting conversion narrowly missing it was still enough to give Cefn their second win of the season.
A special mention must go to prop forward Andy Mcdonnell who, despite suffering a nasty injury to his nose which made breathing difficult, still managed to play seventy minutes of the game, also to young Callum Regis who played his first game at centre and still came away with the man of the match award.
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Bedlinog 2nds 14 Cefn Coed 2nds 9
Cefn Coed Athletic travelled to Bedlinog without captain Bob Wilding jnr. who failed a last minute fitness test (heartburn). In his place Ian Jarman took over the armband and led by example with a fine all-round display culminating in the man of the match award.
Although the Green Army lost the game 14 9 there were serious doubts about both Bedlinog scores with the second try definitely not scored after a fine cover tackle by Callum Regis preventing the ball being grounded. Sadly, the referee saw otherwise.
Although the whole of the second half was dominated by Cefn they failed to find the elusive tochdown in a game they had every right to win. Cefn’s points were kicked by James Hennessy. Sadly, Cefn were unable to capitalise on a fine team effort.
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Cefn Coed 2nds 8 Wattstown 2nds 6
The Athletic entertained a strong Wattstown second team outfit at the Black Patch in their first friendly fixture of the season. With captain Bob Wilding jnr out injured due to a bad finger injury (feeding the horse), and Ian Jarman unavailable due to work commitments, it was left to Tim Twomey to lead the side in a very fiery game.
Both sides failed to score during the first half but midway through the second half Wattstown went ahead with a penalty due to Cefn being caught offside at a ruck.
Cefn then found themselves ahead through a try buy busy flanker Kyle Bishop with that try making it four this season for the skilful back row. With the game evenly poised at five three in Cefn’s favour Wattstown were awarded another penalty to edge in front by a single point.
With the last kick of the game number eight Andrew Taylor who filled in at outside centre slotted over a truly magnificent penalty from a very wide angle to win the game for Cefn.
With the athletic being the first senior side to win at the New Black Patch team manager Tim Twomey was over the proverbial moon. With the daunting task of Bedlinog away next week Cefn go into the game with a big confidence boost but under no illusions about the difficult task that favours them.
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Nelson 2nds 12 Cefn Coed 2nds 10
Cefn Athletic found themselves making the short trip to Nelson without being able to field a front row for the first time this season. With Cefn willing to give the points to Nelson in exchange for being able to use their substitutes, Nelson sportingly agreed, and both teams going one step further and agreeing on rolling subs partly due to the very warm day. Unfortunately for Cefn they also sportingly gave Nelson a twelve point lead due to high and weak tackles and also a lack of willingness on some players part to drop on the ball which would have secured a lot more possession.
Cefn started the second half a lot better than the first and were awarded a try with Kyle Bishop touching down after good work from both forwards and backs. Cefn then wasted numerous chances to score before finally going over in the corner to make the score 12 points to ten in Nelsons favour but with the conversion still to come. Unfortunately a very difficult conversion just failed to make it over, Cefn’s cause not being helped by the long grass!
With team manager Tim Twomey coming out of retirement to secure lineout ball and pinch some of the oppositions, he was backed up by some fine lineout play by Jamie (John West) Davies and good performances by the Thomas brothers Rhodri and Gezzy and also Kyle Bishop, Ian Jarman and Richard(Snitch) Jones.
Everyone played their part in a very entertaining game and although Cefn still haven’t managed to win a game, things look to be coming together nicely.
October 3rd: Wattstown 2nds, Home.
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Cefn Coed 2nds 3 Abercynon 2nds 15
The athletic found themselves at home for the first time this season against a very well drilled Abercynon 2nd team. Cefn cancelled out an Abercynon penalty with one of their own struck sweetly by Alex Bowen. Cefn however found themselves going into the second half ten three down.
With a very scrappy second half coming to an end Abercynon scored their second try of the game to make the final score fifteen points to three. The score line could well have been a lot different if Cefn had been able to concentrate on rugby instead of where the next punch, kick or other off the ball incident were coming from.
It was a very good performance from a Cefn side who out of a squad of 23 only four had trained the week before. Team manager Tim Twomey stated that the late call up of the evergreen, and versatile, Ian (the rock ) Jarman to the first team had disrupted their plans it was a very good performance from the team and it was frightening to think how good they could get with a bit of training under their belts.
