Scorers for Rumney : R.Clark try, M.Silva drop goal and 2 conversions, N.Stork try

Rumney got the new season off to a triumphant start at Riverside Park with a victory over the Ironmen. The home defence had to withstand an early onslaught as Merthyr took control of the close play and kept things well in the Rumney half for long spells. It was a break from outside half Matthew Silva that led to the first score - outside centre Nick Stork received the pass, made a dummy run which deceived the Merthyr defence and sent centre Ray Clark in under the posts. Silva converted. Leading 7-0 at half time, Rumney started the second half with a well taken drop goal by Silva but the home side then conceded a number of penalties and following an infringement at a lineout Merthyr hooker Lloyd Wood took a quick penalty and bulldozed his way over for a try. Rumney's defence was outstanding as Merthyr launched wave after wave of attacks but as they pressed hard to equal the scores Nick Stork intercepted a loose pass and raced forty metres to extend the home side's lead. Merthyr claimed a late try by James Coccomielio just before referee Peter Soroka blew the final whistle.

Dave Escott, Rugby Secretary Rumney RFC : "Merthyr started the better but we absorbed all the pressure for the first ten minutes and then started to gain good possession. With the first real attacking opportunity we scored a very good try - Matthew Silva passed to Nick Stork who drew in the defence and put Ray Clark over. We then absorbed a lot more pressure but our back row was outstanding with Wayne O'Connor making nine telling tackles in the first half hour. Rumney had opportunities to score but on two occasions took the wrong decisions and at half time the score was 7 - 0. Early in the second half Matthew Silva scored a good drop goal but Merthyr came back strongly with the wind on their backs and we spent the next twenty minutes defending. The Rumney defence held with excellent tackling by the centres. Late in the game Merthyr ran the ball out of defence and Nick Stork, intelligently anticipating the move, intercepted a long pass to score a try for Rumney under the posts with Matthew Silva converting. Merthyr grabbed a try in injury time to give a final score of 17 - 12.
Man of the Match : Wayne O'Connor."