Back to back wins keep St Joseph’s in title shake-up

Apr 29 2008 by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

PORTH QUINS are still favourites to lift the Five South East title – but rivals St Joseph’s are making them sweat to the end.

St Joseph’s had a splendid week, starting with a win over table-topping Porth followed by a bonus-point win over Cowbridge.

Dylan James scored a try and Gareth Cleaver kicked three penalties against Porth, while James Egan (3), Jason Goodridge, Franny Sprudd and Ritchie Elliott all touched down in the 40-16 victory against Cowbridge. The two sides meet in the return fixture tonight

One-time promotion candidates Cardiff HSOB suffered two defeats in four days, 22-10 at Abercwmboi and 44-28 at Taffs Well. In the first match, Paul Adams scored the Old Boys’ try and Dan Jones added a penalty and conversion.

An amazing first-half at Taffs Well saw the Old Boys leading 28-27 at half-time with three tries for centre Gareth Jones and one for Adams, all converted by Dan Jones, while Taffs Well also earned a bonus point with tries by Gavin Spiller (2), Lee Rowlands and Ashley Bonnetto.

The hosts then dominated the second-half, adding 17 points as James Barry and skipper Richard Hughes scored tries, while Dewi Williams finished with four conversions and two penalties.

A lacklustre display from Bargoed and a gritty effort from near neighbours Fleur de Lys gave the visitors the spoils in the Stanley Williams memorial fixture 27-26.

Fleur took the lead with two Brett Green penalties and conversion of a Christian Wills try, but Bargoed struck with a try from wing Lee Pearson converted by fly-half Jamie Howells. The experienced Wills then scored again for Fleur, only for Bargoed wing Lewis Protheroe to race away for a spectacular solo try.

Green added two penalties and Bargoed replacement Mike Roberts raced over for a try that Howells converted, and centre Darren Humphries registered Bargoed’s bonus-point try.

But Fleur’s pack pressure paid off as Green slotted a drop goal to give his side a narrow one-point win.

In midweek, Bargoed won an astonishing game with Llantrisant 54-38, 8-6 on tries. For Bargoed, Rhys Humphries, Craig Lynch, Danny Jones, Lee Pearson, Mike Roberts, Jeremy Lovell, Lewis Protheroe and replacement prop Ian Jenkins went over, with Jones goaling six and Scott Beasant one.

Tom Botwood and Ian Worgan scored a brace of tries each for the Black Army and Worgan converted four of the six scored.

Caerphilly’s bid for the Division One East title ended in a 24-19 loss at Llanharan, for whom Justin Jones and Adrian Ford scored tries and Gethin Worgan kicked 14 points. Chris Payne, Stefan Sankala and Steffan Edwards crossed for The Cheesemen, with two of the tries goaled by Dean Watkins.

Pontypool secured the title, while Rumney made sure of staying up with a 21-14 win at Newport Sarries.