Fixture

Cross Keys RFC | 1st Team 28 - 50 Cardiff Met RFC | 1st Team
Corey Lewis
1 Try
Tom Pearson
1 Try
Russell William Bennett
3 Try
Harr Johnston
6 Conversion
1 Penalty
William Gibson
2 Try

Match Report
22 September 2019 / Team News

STUDENTS GAIN 5 POINTS AT PANDY PARK

Cardiff Met will have been pleased to arrive at Cross Keys on a beautiful sunny afternoon with the Pandy Park pitch in excellent condition. The students showed their intent to play open, expansive rugby from the outset and were able to gain early field position inside the Cross Keys 22.  Following a series of attacks outside half Russell Bennett spotted space behind the Cross Keys defensive line and gathered his own chip ahead to score a fine individual try which was converted by Harry Johnston. Almost immediately from the re-start, Cross Keys were awarded a penalty following a lineout drive which they used to kick deep into the Cardiff Met 22. Keys used this position to set up another driving lineout which resulted in Callum Hague crossing for a try. The try was converted by Kieran Hill to level the scores at 7-7. The next Cardiff Met attack resulted in a penalty and yellow card being awarded against Keys prop Richard Cornock for an off the ball tackle which was successfully converted by Harry Johnston.

Cardiff Met attempted to play from all areas of the field but careless handling resulted in a turnover which Cross Keys took full advantage of with a try by Spencer Gibson, again converted by outside half Kieran Hill, to give them the lead 14-10. As the game reached the end of the first quarter, Cardiff Met were awarded a penalty which was quickly taken by scrum half Ellis Bevan - good support play and a series of nice interpassing resulted in a second try for outside half Russell Bennett again converted by Harry Johnston, giving the students a 14-17 lead.

The game moved into the second quarter with Cardiff Met asking questions of the Cross Keys defence but their lineout failed to function effectively resulting in a number of promising situations being denied. Cross Keys wing, Dan Hitchins then received a yellow card for an offence at a ruck. Shortly afterwards, Ellis Bevan broke from a scrum inside the Cross Keys 22 to feed Russell Bennett who crossed to complete his hat trick, Harry Johnston again adding the conversion. Neat interplay at the front of a lineout, with Cardiff Met recognising that Cross Keys did not have a blind side wing, resulted in hooker Corey Lewis racing in for a try from 30 metres out. Whilst the students will have been pleased with their 14-29 lead at half time, they will undoubtedly have reflected upon a half full of endeavour but with room for improvement in certain areas.

The start of the second half saw a period of sustained pressure from Cardiff Met which eventually resulted in a try for second row Tom Pearson, once again converted by Harry Johnston. From the kick off, Cardiff Met immediately launched a long range attack and following some good interplay, admittedly containing one or two suspect (forward) passes, captain Will Gibson crossed for a try converted by Harry Johnston to give the students a 14-43 lead. The next phase of play saw a mass brawl break out between both teams resulting in yellow cards being issued to the Number 8's from each team. 

As the game moved into the final quarter, Cross Keys produced a period of sustained pressure inside the Cardiff Met 22 and a series of 5m scrums resulted in Max George crossing for a try converted by Kieran Hill. Cross Keys continued to produce some good rugby during this period only to be denied by a series of knock ons. It was, however, Cardiff Met who were next on the scoreboard with a second try for Will Gibson converted by Harry Johnston to bring up the 50 points.  Cross Keys were not finished and continued to work hard for a fourth try to give themselves a try bonus point. They achieved this late on with a try by Adam Tetley, once again converted by Kieran Hill.

A final score of 28-50 and 5 points certainly suggests a good days work from the Cardiff Met boys. However, they will reflect on this performance and identify areas upon which they can improve for the sterner tests which they will face over the coming weeks.  Winning is a good habit and they are certainly creating a 'winning habit' in what is indoubtedly a talented group of players.

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