Grim news for Old Parish on and off the field

Mar 31 2008 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

IT was a weekend that was as grim as the weather for Maesteg whose spirited display at Cross Keys ultimately failed to gain them any points.

News of Llandovery’s win over Bridgend compounded the woes for the Old Parish side.

Yet Maesteg could have so easily have been celebrating a win of their own after turning around for the second time just three points down with a strong wind behind them.

But they came up against a Keys side that were determined to get back to winning ways ahead of their cup clash with Neath and they deservedly took the points.

“The conditions were awful against a side fighting for their lives and we put in a gutsy display,” said Keys’ backs coach Dai Manley.

“The boys in the second half came out and controlled the first 20 minutes playing into the wind.”

Centre Pat Pocock’s try and eight points from the boot of Scott Sneddon gave Keys a 13-10 lead at half-time, but it was the visitors who were happier at that stage.

Luke Richards was their inspiration, bagging a try, conversion and penalty, but after the break they allowed Keys to get on the front foot and were then frustrated by referee Gary Davies.

The official sin-binned all three of their starting front rows at various stages, while also producing a yellow card for Keys hooker Lloyd Burns and reds for visiting prop Geraint Long and home flanker Rhys Peebles in the closing stages.

By then the game was over, courtesy of a further five points from Sneddon and a close-range try by Keys skipper Ben Watkins.