Dominant bonus-point win for Cross Keys to continue strong start to season

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Cross Keys 41-27 Glamorgan Wanderers, WRU National Championship

Cross Keys RFC continued their strong start to the season by registering their fourth win in six in the WRU National Championship.

A dominant Keys side scored five tries as they beat Glamorgan Wanderers at Pandy Park on Saturday, October 22.

An early penalty kick from Adam Tetley gave the hosts a 3-0 lead early on. The visitors were denied the first try of the game when an interception saw Ioan Cooper race through before being pulled back by the referee following a Wanderers offside. The ensuing penalty was kicked over and the Keys doubled their lead to six points.

The deficit was cut when a penalty from Aled Evans drew the visitors back to within three points, but this was short lived as the Keys scored the opening try of the game through Walker Price – upping the lead to ten points.

The Keys ran in their second try soon after to go 20-3 ahead, before continuing to put pressure on the away side and score try number three, with the conversion increasing the lead by a further seven points.

Shortly before the interval, Glamorgan pulled a try back through Morgan Williams, who scored in the corner. The ensuing conversion was unsuccessful, with the sides going into the break at 27-8.

As the rain came down at the start of the second half, Glamorgan scored try number two when a Keys clearance kick was charged down by Mackenzie Martin, who touched down to bring his side to within two converted tries of equalising.

The Keys fought back but conceded again against the run of play when Cooper pounced on a loose ball and ran 65 metres to score.

A successful conversion from Evans brought the visitors to within a converted try of levelling.

As the weather worsened, the Keys got back into the game and began to reassert their dominance over proceedings.

A wave of Keys pressure resulted in a Wanderers sin bin, which the hosts capitalised upon with two late tries to put the game beyond doubt.

A late Wanderers try, which went on to be converted, gave the visitors a late consolation and secured them a four-try bonus-point.

Cross Keys return to WRU National Championship action on Saturday, October 29, where they make the short trip to fellow-Caerphilly County Borough side Bargoed.