Fixture

Old T's avenged a high scoring loss at Cwmbran earlier in the season with a high scoring victory at Roseheyworth Fields. 

Still missing key personnel, the homesters were able to field a stronger 15 (and subs!) than the previous game against Tref-y-Clawdd. This showed in the early exchanges as the T's looked strong. However, basic errors allowed Girling field position. A quickly tapped penalty coupled with a dozy defence allowed the visitors to take the lead. 

From here, the dominance of the home scrum told. T's were winning scrum ball off both put ins and as such putting big pressure on the visitors. Showing the new found composure of this 2016/17 team, despite the early setback the T's took over. 

Fine interplay by prop Richard Faulkner and openside Josh Smith took play a yard short of the line from where number 8, Gareth Trapnell drove over. Soon after Trapnell made his way over again and the T's were in the lead. Still the T's pressed, Trapnell this time held up short but quick ruck ball saw debutant Eliot Williams stroll over under the posts. Chris Davies this time converted. 

The rest of the half was dominated by the T's and the scrum but clever wheeling by the Girling 8 never allowed the stability for the home side to take advantage. 

HT 17-7

Old T's started quickly in the second half, securing the try bonus point early when fly half Greg Powell expertly put flanker Dan Went in. Soon after a fine slip pass by veteran Paul Chivers put Scotty Busted in for his 2nd try of the year (and career). The T's were cruising and playing some fine expansive stuff. 

Seasoned followers would know it's never that easy for the T's. A nasty injury to a visiting player seemed to take the momentum out of a tiring home pack. Then, an intercept pass thrown by Trapnell saw Girling finish well on the break. Soon after Girling gained sustained pressure in the home 22 and went over again to close the deficit to 8 points. 

Previous Old T's sides might have cracked at this point. The vintage are made of sterner stuff though. They spent the rest of the game hammering away at the visitors line and despite some errors allowing turnovers the T's took a deserved victory, the first over Girling in this correspondant's long memory...heady days. 

Website Man of the Match: Josh Smith