Riverside Park, Rumney
Saturday 10th May 2003, K.O. 2.30 pm

Rumney : 15.C.Wills 14.C.Arnold 13.S.McIntyre 12.M.Addis 11.I.McIntyre 10.J.Balfrey 9.G.Welsh 1.G.Cox  2.D.Simons 3.D.Smith (Capt) 4.P.Langley 5.G.Harrington 6.N.Coles 7.G.Lucas 8.S.Coles
Replacements : D.Bartlett  M.Wood G.Spain J.Stringer S.Rees M.Feneck A.Jones

Scorers for Rumney : M.Addis, G.Welsh try, G.Harrington try, S.Coles try, J.Balfrey 2 penalties and 2 conversions

Scorers for Pontypool : L.Woodard try, J.Griffin try, J.Hawker try, J.Rowley try, K.Falatau try, R.Rees try, S.Lawrence 2 conversions, B.Hayward penalty and 2 conversions

Pontypool were made to battle hard for the victory which took them back to the top of Division One. Following a run of three comfortable victories in which they had been scoring tries at will, the large number of Pooler supporters who packed Riverside Park found Rumney to be a very different prospect, in fact the home side, led by long serving prop David 'Louie' Smith in his last home game before retirement, produced one of their best performances of the season.

Defiant from the start, Rumney battled for every scrap of possession and took an early lead through a James Balfrey penalty. Pooler struck back as the league's top try scorer, Lennie Woodard, was worked clear on the right wing to cross unopposed but the advantage quickly reverted to Rumney as Balfrey put over a second penalty. The visitors tried to set loose their back division but were repeatedly stopped by the Rumney defence until defensive lapses eventually led to Pontypool securing two tries, the first for winger Joel Griffin and the second for Jonathan Hawker.

Rumney's determination was unaltered and scrum half Glyn Welsh darted over from a tapped penalty but James Rowles made a quick reply with another try for Pooler. Rumney centres Stuart McIntyre and Mark Addis were creating problems for Pontypool and a break by McIntyre led to a try for powerful number eight Stuart Coles. After thirty minutes Byron Hayward came on for the visitors and he closed the first half with a penalty which gave his side a nine point interval lead.

Pontypool opened the second half with tries for Kulu Falatau and replacement scrum half Richard Rees, but Rumney refused to lay down and excellent tries from Mark Addis and lock Grant Harrington set up a tense final quarter. Pontypool held on to claim a valuable win and the victory which returned them to the top of the table.

Shaun Lee, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "A very good performance from the squad against the First Division leaders. I was very pleased with the manner in which we played this game, we competed for every scrap of ball and played some very good rugby. Our forwards worked tirelessly to create a platform for the backs who used every opportunity to stretch the opposition defence.  Pontypool were made to work very hard for their slender victory.  This was our last home game this season and our spectators enjoyed a very entertaining game in which both teams tried to play constructive rugby. We now move to our last game of the season against Llandovery on Saturday. Rumney's Man of the Match was flanker Gavin Lucas."

Jim O'Brien, Rumney RFC : "A wonderful effort by Rumney. Silly mistakes early on let Pontypool build up a decent lead which we couldn't draw back, but we never gave up."