Caerphilly 41-14 Taff’s Well
Saturday February 18, Constructaquote Stadium
Caerphilly RFC powered their way into the WRU National Bowl semi-finals with a magnificent six-try demolition of last year’s runners-up, Taff’s Well, on Saturday February 18.
A large crowd were witness to four first-half tries which gave the Castlemen an unassailable lead.
Coming out of the blocks strong, Caerphilly attacked from the off, and penned Taff’s Well in their own half.
Referee Aaron Parry had this work cut out as several scuffles broke out in the first five minutes with both sides measuring each other. Yellow cards for flankers Will Oliver and Rhys Watkins proved the catalyst for things to settle down as both sides were reduced to 14.
The home side made the first breakthrough in the 13th minute as Chris Thomas powered over from out wide after an attacking five-metre scrum.
Taff’s Well couldn’t clear their lines from the restart, and the Caerphilly pressure continued. Scrum-half Jac Jonathan took recycled ball to the line – drawing in two defenders – before releasing Will Oliver to cut a good angle and cross the whitewash. Outside-half Matthew Hurley added the conversion.
The Castlemen were not only dominant, but dazzled, as they scored an eye-catching try. Winger Gareth Dare collected the ball on the half-way line, and heading wide, he danced his way through five defenders to cut inside before putting debutant centre Connor Kawulock into space.
Promoted from the youth team, Kawulock still had work to do, as he sidestepped the defending full-back to go under the posts for Caerphilly’s third of the afternoon.
After a series of penalties gave Taff’s Well the opportunity for some territory and possession, a telegraphed pass was intercepted by Hurley five-metres from his own line, and the outside-half sprinted the length of the field to cross before dusting himself off and slotting the conversion.
Caerphilly led 24-0 at the interval.
The Taff’s Well coach made several changes at the interval in an attempt to change the course of the match, but Caerphilly struck the killer blow within five minutes of the restart to put to bed any chance the visitors may have had to salvage the game.
Climbing high in a Taff’s Well lineout, Oliver stole the ball and with the defence on the back foot, No8 John Williams found a gap on the 22 and went under the posts.
Soon after, centre Matthew Nuthall crossed after selling his opposite number a dummy, and Hurley’s conversion made it 38-0.
To their credit, the visitors kept faith and their patience eventually paid off with a try. After a final pass went awry, and another chance was ruled out due to a foot in touch, replacement scurm-half Gwilym Edwards broke upfield, putting Mike Lyndon into space out wide.
The centre broke through several tacklers before offloading to flanker Ieuan Parsons for a well-worked try.
The home crowd were surprised when Hurley signalled for the posts from a simple penalty, but the match was as good as decided.
The visitors had the final say, however, when outside-half Rhys Lott crossed in the corner to add an air of respectability to the final 41-14 scoreline.
• Match report and photography by Mark Tamplin of Caerphilly RFC.