Fixture

With new dad 'Reverend Spunkbubble' away on paternity leave, it is left to semi literate team sheet prop Trappy to take you through the weekends events. In the spirit of our usual report writer I was inspired by the lyrics of T's singalong classic 'The first cut is the deepest':  

'I would have given you all of my heart, but there's someone who's torn it apart' 

Seasoned T's watchers went into this one wondering, a la Wales, just how they could fashion a heartbreaking defeat from the jaws of seemingly assured victory. In the three and a bit years of Welsh league encounters they have had to contend with agonising draws against Markham and Azerbaisychan plus the desolation of throwing away 17-0 and 14-0 leads versus Sea View and, most recently West Mon.  

'And he's taken just all that I have, but if you want I'll try to love again'

This encounter saw the T's on the offensive right from the kick off (safely taken for a change) taking the ball straight up to the Cwmcarn line with a series of carries, rucks and recycles. They took the visitors side to side but alas not far forwards. However, the strength of the T's contact area saw numerous penalties awarded and subsequent lineout ventures into the home half but some poor handling saw any early chances snuffed out as the first half hour went scoreless. 

'Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...'

However, the T's remained on the offensive. Lineout hooker and general master of no trades Trappy made a break from a lineout steal and managed to offload to maurading Frenchman Pierre who inevitably lacked the necessary close support to break the deadlock. As regular watchers know, the opposition would doubtless get a chance themselves....but a horribly hooked penalty from in front of the posts saw the half enter its dying embers still at 0-0...

'The first cut is the deepest'

Eventually the T's took a foothold in the opposition 22. Jamie 'Phileas' James made a smart break from another good forward charge and set up a maul just to the right of the posts. Vitally he managed to turn his body towards his support where Craig James peeled off and like Moses strolled through the defensive waters to touch down under the posts. The secretary (scruffily) signed this one off on the stroke of half time. 

'Baby I know'

Oops, forgot. Congrats to Mike and Sarah on the safe arrival of Chloe if you're still reading...

'I still want you by my side, just to help me dry the tears that I've cried'

The T's had been here before, but somehow this one felt different. Again the T's piled on the pressure, utilising a kicking game to camp themselves in the Cwmcarn 22. Again, Jamie attacked the line, this time setting up a ruck from which Trappy picked up and twisted over the line. Another step closer. 

'And I'm sure gonna give you a try'

Some inertia followed, both teams struggling to get out from between the 10s. Seasoned T's got twitchy, even more so when the Cwmcarn scrum half smashed over a penalty from 40 yards. However, this was a different T's. Serial try snatcher Baz burst through from Glenory short pass, leaving a number of would be tacklers trailing in his wake to touch down under the posts. 

 'If you want I'll try to love again, (try)'

The T's were in no mood to stop there. Salesman centre Scott implored the boys to push for the previously unheard of bonus point on gathering for the kick off. Indeed it was not long before the ball was expertly worked wide for wannabe centre Pierre to stroll over from 40 yards. 

'But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed'

It almost looked like champagne rugby when replacement winger Ashley scorched past three would be defenders down the touch line to cross the whitewash unopposed. Alas, cursed by inexperience he listened too intently to the skippers cries to go under the posts, dithered and was tackled onto his back just before the dead ball line. If ever there was a time to do it....

'Baby, I'll try to love again but I know, OOHHH....' 

Thankfully it was left for salmon impressionist Steve to leap over a ruck and touch down against the posts to take the heat off young Ashley by smashing the T's through the 30 point barrier for the first time in a competitive game since I can remember. The final whistle followed and saw jubilant scenes in the visiting ranks. It's been a long time coming....

FINAL SCORE: Cwmcarn United 3 - Old Tyleryans 33

TRIES: Craig James; Gareth Trapnell; Matthew Baskerville; Daniel Went; Steve Hillman
CONVERSIONS: Matthew Harman (2); Gregory Powell (2). 

OLD T's LINE UP: 
BACKS - 15 Dan Gettings; 14 Tom Cole; 13 Matthew Baskerville (c); 12 Scott Southall; 11 Matthew Harman; 10 Greg Powell; 9 Jamie James.
FORWARDS - 1 Ed Ryan; 2 Phil Jenkins; 3 Lee Griffiths; 4 Craig James; 5 Steve Hillman; 6 Dan Went; 7 Peter Beecham; 8 Gareth Trapnell.