Clwb vs Cowbridge

 

 

 

 

 

Gem 1 : 5-2 Charlie Eben

Gem 2: 5-3 Charlie Osian Ffred

Managers Seren y Gemau : Cai B

 

So Sunday arrived again. We went from playing Cowbridge away, to playing Cowbridge and Brecon away, to playing Cowbridge and Brecon at home to playing just Cowbridge at home.

 

The Cowbridge team was stacked with talent, apparently up to 9 of the Cowbridge players being selected for the regional schools team. Yet despite the challenge ahead, everyone was buoyant and looking forward to the contest. Clwb dan 11’s seems to have developed a positive attitude no matter the task at hand.

 

And again we started off well, Charlie going over for the opening try with his signature hard running. Eben also scored impressively to leave us all square at half time. A few individual mistakes in the second half led Cowbridge taking and stretching the lead, a lead that never relinquished. The first match ended 2-5.

 

The 2^nd game mirrored the first, Charlie scoring early and Osian and Ffred getting onto the scoreboard. Yet Cowbridge again pounced on individual efforts with Clwb giving away interception tries and the like; which ultimately took the game away from Clwb. The game ended 3-5.

 

But it was far from doom and gloom, there was still a lot to celebrate. For one, Clwb started to look more structured, especially in the back line. You could see the backline evolve throughout the match, they were certainly working better than a few other backlines that weekend. I can’t wait to see it develop further.

 

Bethan was great at getting the ball out of the ruck quickly which allowed the team some go forward; and Cai B’s strong ‘Jamie Roberts-eque” running created opportunities for others throughout both matches.

 

 

 Onwards and upwards Clwb.

 

Ymlaen

 

 

Mel's Ghost Walk

The faint but unmistakeable sound of Ray Parker Juniors biggest hit drifted from several of the arriving cars that transported the bravest members of the C.R.C.C. under 11's team to the sponsored ghost walk around Pontcanna fields.

As the children waited for the start of the walk, delicious rocky roads (diolch Haf) and sweets were furiously devoured. Whilst Dr Rob gave a in-depth and scientifically sound lecture on why fire needs oxygen to survive. He might have to correct me but I think it was something along the lines of 2H₂  +O₂--> 2H₂O.

But I digress...
It was a cold and dark night, the mist rolled up off the Taff covering the rugby pitches, not allowing all but the most eagle eyed to see the 22 from the try line. Everyone gathered around in a huddle, as the first tale (about a frog wench that would drag herself out the Taff, with the sole purpose of terrifying Cardiffians) was recounted. The children howled in glee, determined not to be scared and headed off into the dark.... whilst just off in the mist small little lights started appearing and disappearing, we were being watched!!!!

 As the children moved around the fields, the stories got darker and darker only to be matched by the darkness of the dimming light. A certain parent (who remains nameless but likes Kababs and Stella) recounted his own horror stories of the Taff Trails, it was enough to put the willys up you (his words not mine). Whilst another parent jumped out the bushes howling like a banshee and Mel donned a witches mask that nearly sent Theo running for the hills. The boys although still in high spirits, suddenly started walking in a tighter formation, they was almost maul like.

Another ghost story at Blackweir, a ghost pushing a high fiving cyclist off his bike and it was time to head back, down the spookily tree lined path. You could see a few heads turning back in the torch light, making sure nothing but the mist was following them back from the Taff. There was more than a little relief as the changing rooms came back into sight, everyone had a hot chocolate to celebrate. As they warmed up slightly, the boasting started about how unscarred they had been during the walk, but the children didn't believe their parents blatant lies.

 It wasn't until I reached home and looked at some of the photos (see above), did I realise how ghostly the walk had been... It was a truly a spooktastic event with so much thanks for arranging, performing and making sure everyone had a great time going to Mel.

So everyone please get your sponsorship monies to Mel or myself, even if you didn't attend, please, please, please support those that braved the darkness of Pontcanna...

Old Pens Vs Clwb

 

Score 8-8

Scorers : Ralph 2, Charlie 2, Rhys, Andy, Logaan, PT

Managers Seren Y Gem : Rhys Gibbs

 



What a game, what a game, what a game.

Lets face it, when we turned up and saw the size of some of the Old Pens kids, the challenge ahead of us was more than evident. The number 21 on the back of one of the Old Pen's players shirt, could of been a reference to his ag rather than his position.

As the teams passed each other in training, a few comments were exchanged and the cauldron ( that have become old pens vs Clwb games) started to bubble.

Kickoff and Old Pens looked unstoppable, their size advantage showing at the ruck and fair play they played some great running/passing rugby. One try, and another and another. I feaed our heads might drop, but they didn't.

The boys and girls were like a pack of lions, they threw their all into each tackle, each ruck and although they were often coming off second best, they got back up and readied for the next exchange. This was personified by Mabon, i think I counted four tackles in a row, with him pulling his injured body off the floor to make that forth tackle.

JP's constant positive encouragement, meant that even as the 4th, 5th and 6th tries were concedeed, not a single head dropped.

The second half started, and a fresh Old Pen's team took the field. Rhys and Robert charged forward, putting us on the front foot, then Ralph stepped, stepped again and a little spark ignited as he went over for our first try. Next thing you know we are running tries in all over the place while Old Pen's were running out of ink!!!

Theo's kickoffs put the opposition on the back foot and Andy's fullback positioning meant that they were unable to leave their half with any sort of relieving kick. The message went on, one try behind, 3 minutes left. I don't think anybody quite believed it. The crowd on the one side of the pitch were going wild. Full of posivite comments and full of pride...

Kickoff, pressure... turnover. We have it and we almost predicatably scored. At this point I swear I saw a small tear roll down the cheek of Coach Bryan.

Old Pens reacted swifty, returning their big guns to the fray. But as the pendulum swung back and for, it was obvious that no-one was going to dominate this group of Clwb players now. The refs whistle blew and the score, well that was tied; but the peformace was all about Clwb.

I felt compelled to pat each one of our players on the back, what a great team performance, a never say die attitude mixed with some great individual flair. How JP how any sembelence of a voice at the end, I have no idea.

More of the same next week please.
Ymlaen