| 19.11.04 | Croesyceiliog | 33 | Rumney | 07 |
| 26.03.05 | Rumney | 44 | Croesyceiliog | 27 |
Rumney : 15.M.O'Neill 14.M.Miller 13.G.Bowen 12.A.Jones 11.R.Hallett 10.D.Clark 9.L.Miller 1.P.Douglas 2.M.Feneck 3.J.Harris 4.M.Kelly 5.J.Braine 6.R.Sutton 7.R.Fenton 8.S.Coles (Capt) Replacements : D.Clements K.O'Connor B.Phillips
Referee : Richard Morgan (Wrexham)
Scorers for Rumney : M.Miller try, L.Miller try, M.O'Neill try, R.Hallett try, D.Clark D.Clark 4 penalties and 2 conversions
Scorers for Croesyceiliog : L.Williams try, 2 penalty tries, D.Davies 2 conversions
Croesyceiliog started like an express train but particularly strong tackles from Rumney flanker Ryan Fenton and centre Gareth Bowen disrupted promising attacks and props Paul Douglas and James Harris forced the home side into costly errors. Outside half Danny Clark cleared other threatening moves with good line kicking and a superb break by right wing Rhys Hallet nearly brought a try, but with the Cockerels now on a defensive footing, Rumney captain Stuart Coles produced a typical battering run, leading to a penalty which Clark put over in the sixteenth minute for the opening score. From the restart flanker Ryan Sutton charged through the opposition and linked with scrum half Miller who put Clark through the gap to feed centre Gareth Bowen on the burst. Bowen found acres of space and raced twenty metres upfield where his excellent, long pass reached full back Michael O'Neill, flying up in support and ready to cover the remaining thirty metres for the first try of the match. From this restart Sutton again gathered well and set up a strong forward drive, quick ball to Miller allowing the scrum half to chip over and find Hallett sprinting forty metres down the touchline to gather brilliantly, cruise around the fullback and complete an outstanding passage of play with a try under the posts. Clark's conversion took the score to 0 - 15.
The speed of the Rumney forwards was clearly disrupting Croesyceiliog's game plan, lock Michael Kelly linking well with his backs and Douglas, Coles, Harris and second row Jamie Braine all creating gaps in the midfield, centres Anthony Jones and Bowen closing down any counterattacks and putting on additional pressure. The Croesyceiliog forwards came back strongly with prop Marc Watkins and flanker Chris Williams causing problems for the visitors and when Rumney were judged to have kicked the ball out of a scrum, Mr Morgan awarded a penalty try. Full back David Davies converted but Rumney returned to the offensive with Sutton supplying more excellent lineout ball and replacement prop Kevin O'Connor contributing well, and it was Sutton's clean possession at the end of a line that set Miller off through a huge gap and skilfull interpassing led to the scrum half regaining the ball and blazing over in the corner for an oustanding try. Although the Rumney scrum continued to go backwards in the set pieces, Coles was fully in control at the back and continued to secure possession and push forward, Croesyceiliog attacking through Davies, Williams and No8 Jason Lloyd but being dispossessed by Brain and driven back by Miller. Just before the interval Clark kicked another penalty and the teams arrived at half time with the scoreboard reading Croesyceiliog 7 Rumney 23.
Five minutes into the second period Clark added another penalty and was soon instrumental in setting up Rumney's fourth try when he accurately found left wing Matthew Miller with a huge and unexpected cross kick, the speedy winger taking the ball well and scattering tacklers on his way to the line. A period of sustained pressure by the home side resulted in a good try for lock Lee Williams after effective work in the centre by Scott Copsey, and in the sixtieth minute the visitors conceded a second penalty try, this time for deliberately collapsing the scrum. Davies' conversion brought the scores to 19 - 31 and despite Croesyceiliog's attempts to narrow the margin, replacement flanker Barry Phillips and hooker Michael Feneck provided solid defence, winger Miller ran the ball well in counterattack and Douglas showed his silky skills as a linekicker to gain vast areas of ground. The visiting forwards ended the game driving the home pack in reverse and the backs showed an appetite for more counterattacks, but with both defences holding firm there was no further scoring in the final fifteen minutes.
Larry Brincat, Rumney RFC : "Rumney dogged it out in the end, their character came through, but it was a difficult start to the game and Croesyceiliog came back into it and tried to push us around, putting us under a lot of pressure in the scrums. We got the win we deserved by turning the screw and playing the rugby, Ryan Fenton, Michael Kelly and Jamie Brain were outstanding, and the Rumney half backs showed class and created opportunities."
Rebecca Elliott, physiotherapist Rumney 1st XV : "I enjoyed the game but had a very busy time today with Paul Douglas, Ryan Sutton, Stuart Coles and Michael Feneck all receiving knocks, but from the start I was confident that we would win. We also had strong replacements who played very well when they came on and it was one of Rumney's better performances with Ryan Fenton and Rhys Hallett putting in outstanding efforts."
