Previous results

Rumney : 15.P.O'Neill 14.D.Clements 13.A.Jones 12.S.McIntyre 11.L.Macqueline10.L.Barnett 9.B.Morris 1.M.Gee 2.N.Ritchie (Capt) 3.D.Bartlett 4.W.Feneck 5.C.Jones 6.M.Kelly 7.R.Sutton 8.N.Coles  Replacements : P.Tennant M.Feneck  M.Foley  C.Ford  P.Bull  P.Carlton P.Haines

Referee : Mr Lyndon Williams (Blackwood)

Scorers for Rumney : P.O'Neill try, C.Ford try and 2 conversions, M.Feneck try, penalty try, L.Barnett conversion

This incident filled match opened in exciting fashion with both sides attacking and counterattacking at every opportunity. After eleven minutes UWIC fullback Pete Towers made a brilliant break from his own twenty two along the left touchline leaving Rumney tacklers in his wake, when he chipped ahead he was obstructed and referee Lyndon Williams awarded a penalty try, which was converted by stand off Nathan Hopkins. A few minutes later Hopkins dropped a goal from twenty five metres out to place the students 10 - 0 ahead. Rumney full back Paddy O'Neill was on top form in defence, stopping a number of attacks and returning kicks with interest but the visitors slipped further behind when the ball went loose from scrappy play and UWIC centre Neil Davies snapped it up and sprinted twenty five metres to score. Hopkins converted to stretch the lead to 17 - 0. In spite of the score, the Rumney pack was now showing signs of dominance and a superb break by second row Wayne Feneck set Ben Morris off on the attack. The elusive scrum half drew in the defence before flicking an excellent pass to O'Neill who raced in under the posts. Lee Barnett's conversion brought the score to 17 - 7 and when UWIC chose a surprise restart to the right, full back Towers and Rumney left wing Dan Clements collided and both players had to leave the field. The potentially serious nature of the injuries meant that play was halted for thirty minutes. In the thirty fifth minute UWIC prop Steve Facey was red carded but Rumney continued to give away penalties in attacking positions and there was no further score in the half.

Shortly after the restart UWIC's influential No8 Craig Morris's dynamic break was only stopped by O'Neill's outstanding tackle but in the fifty second minute the students' right wing Darren Berry rounded off a fine handling movement with a converted try. Now unable to compete with Rumney in the scrums, UWIC concentrated on lineout possession from lock Guy Botterrill, gaining ball from Rumney errors and driving the visitors back with long kicks. Having gained a lineout on the UWIC ten metre line, livewire Rumney flanker Ryan Sutton took clean possession allowing centre Stuart McIntyre to advance and pass to outside half Carl Ford who dummied his way through the opposition defences for a spectacular try. Further forward pressure, particulalry by prop Matthew Gee, forced a penalty from which hooker Michael Feneck tapped and went over for an opportunist try. Carl Ford's conversion brought the score to 24 - 19 but from the restart Rumney were offside at a maul and Hopkins added another three points for the home side. UWIC were still proving to be dangerous, particularly in the backs, but Rumney centre McIntyre was unlucky to be stopped inches from the try line following good work from Ford. Ford was on hand to convert a penalty try which was awarded when the UWIC forwards were deemed to have deliberately brought down a five metre scrum. With the score at 27 - 26 and six minutes left to play, winger Phil Carlton made a devestating sixty metre break but Rumney again gave away a penalty and UWIC were able to clear. Rumney then conceded yet another penalty and Hopkins slotted the kick from the twenty two ensuring the UWIC victory.

Shaun Lee, Coach Rumney 1st XV : "A game that we could and should have won. In the first quarter of the game we allowed the opposition to dominate and they went into a seventeen point lead. The Rumney side then decided to play to the game plan that we had agreed and we came back into the game. With the score at 17-7, unfortunately there was a very serious accident between Rumney's wing Dan Clements and the UWIC fullback Pete Towers, two very courageous players. Both were badly injured and taken to hospital, I would, on behalf of Rumney RFC, like to wish them a speedy recovery. The game continued with both sides playing entertaining rugby the score towards the end of the game at 27-26 in UWIC's favour, we pressed their line on a couple of occasions but their scramble defence just held out. With the game coming to a close a penalty award sealed the game for UWIC. Rumney's man of the match was fullback Michael (Paddy) O'Neil."

Jim O'Brien, Rugby Secretary Rumney RFC : "Well, at the end of the day we got what we deserved. We had chances and didn't take them, especially in the second half when UWIC were down to fourteen men. We can have no complaints."