News

Neath RFC were the visitors to Cyncoed for the latest Specsavers Championship fixture with the students looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season. With the BUCS Super Rugby competition now underway Danny Milton took the opportunity to make a number of changes to the starting line-up allowing a number of new faces to experience 1st team rugby.

The game didn't start too well for the students, with referee Mr Stephen Allsop awarding a number of penalties to Neath following unnecessary infringements by the Cardiff Met team. This, together with numerous handling errors, allowed Neath to gain field position in and around the Cardiff Met 22.  From a lineout on the Cardiff Met 22, Neath moved the ball wide and were able to create space for wing Luke Griffiths to cross for the game's opening try which he then converted from the touchline to give Neath the lead 7-0. This was the only real highlight of the opening thirty minutes in which neither side was really able to impose themselves on the game, the Cardiff Met lineout once again failed to function effectively and a number of handling errors from the home side meant that it was difficult to maintain continuity for any length of time.  

With thirty minutes of the game played, Cardiff Met produced some nice rugby resulting in a break which looked as if it would result in their first score. However, poor decision making meant that what looked like a certain try scoring opportunity was lost. Moments later, wing Jack Silvester gathered a loose ball and sprinted in from 50 metres to open the scoring for the students - the try was converted by James Mattin and the scores were tied at 7-7. Cardiff Met were now beginning to enjoy the lions share of both possession and territory and when the were awarded a penalty just outside the Neath 22, scrum half Ellis Bevan took a quick tap and broke through to put hooker Morgan Nelson in for a try under the posts converted by James Mattin. Just before half time, wing Luke Griffiths  was successful with a penalty goal for Neath, to bring the half time score to 14-10.

The second half started with an early exchange of penalty goals, firstly by Luke Griffiths (Neath) and then by James Mattin (Cardiff Met) following a high tackle which resulted in a yellow card for Neath. Cardiff Met were now dominating the game in terms of territory and possession, with Neath rarely able to break out of their own half. It was, however, Neath who were next to score when wing Luke Griffiths kicked his third penalty of the game to bring the scores to 17-16.  The students continued to dominate but were rather unimaginative in terms of their attack and consequently their only remaining score was a penalty kick by James Mattin to give them a winning scoreline of 20-16.

Whilst Cardiff Met will be delighted to get the win and maintain their unbeaten run, they will surely reflect on why the scoreline was so close given the dominance they had enjoyed, particularly in a rather one sided second half. The coaches will certainly be looking for a more clinical approach in the coming games.

On Wednesday evening, Loughborough University will provide the opposition in the next round of the BUCS Super Rugby competition - 6.30pm KO at Cyncoed. 

(Image:  Jack Silvester races in for the students' opening try)