Rugby: Cefn sink nearer to bottom

May 1 2008 by Our Correspondent, Merthyr Express

Llantwit Major 18Cefn Coed 13

WITH the season drawing to a close Cefn slipped to fourth from bottom after narrowly losing both the midweek game against Cilfynydd and Saturday’s game against Llantwit Major.

The opening period against Major belonged to Cefn with some committed rugby typified by the classic tackle and turnover from Alex Bowen which was rewarded with a superb drop goal from Jonathan Lewis.

Against the run of play but aided by some poor Cefn kicking, David Sinclair ran in a try for the hosts to lead 5-3.

Lewis kicked a difficult penalty to give Cefn a slender one point advantage at 6-5 after Llantwit were adjudged to be offside.

David Spargo added a further three penalty points for Llantwit following a 30-yard drive, to give the home side the lead at the interval.

Two points did not look a sufficient lead and Cefn, armed with the psychological advantage of playing with the slope, had the home side defending their line.

They were given a penalty for their pressure under the posts but missing what seemed an unmissable kick proved to be the turning point as Cefn heads dropped.

Llantwit drove up field and won a penalty which was cleverly kicked to the corner before being driven over for a try. Spargo converted to give Llantwit a 15-6 advantage.

The home side went close to scoring again but some superb defence by Bowen held up man and ball over the line.

A further penalty from Spargo pushed Llantwit to 18 points.

Finally Cefn started playing rugby but it was their turn to have a try disallowed as man and ball were held up over the line. A period of good driving around the mauls particularly from Daniel Snape sucked in the Llantwit defence before the ball was spun wide and fast for club coach Gareth Williams to score a try in his last game at Cefn.

Lewis converted but there wasn’t enough time left to find a winner.

In midweek Cefn came agonisingly close to winning atCilfynydd, going down 39-38.

The game was a cracker, showing what rugby the squad are capable of playing as the score swung back and fore from an initial 7-0 lead to Cefn to 19-19 at half time.

Eventually Cefn went down by only one point but they had Thomas Daly to thank for a hat-trick of tries who again showed skills and maturity beyond his years.