Match Report Pentyrch v Old Illtydians on 4th March 2023

By Harry Rees

On a clear cold afternoon the Tyrchs kicked off towards the club end. Illts made a good catch and following an exchange of kicks the Tyrchs were awarded a penalty and wisely decided to take a kick at the posts. The penalty was converted by Gethin Thomas Tyrchs 3 Illts 0.

Illts restarted the game and despite the Tyrchs making a good catch the referee decided that the ball was held in the ruck too long and awarded Illts a scrum. Illts won the scrum but unfortunately knocked the ball on. The Tyrchs won the resulting scrum and cleared their lines. The referee decided however that a Tyrchs player had not retreated after being in front of the kicker and awarded Illts a penalty. Illts found a good touch some 8/9 metres from the Tyrchs line but lost the lineout. There followed a series of scrums eventually leading to Illts being awarded a penalty. Illts chose to kick at the posts which fell short and the Tyrchs cleared the ball up to half way. At the resulting lineout the Illts were penalised for not throwing the ball in straight. The Tyrchs won the scrum and set up a powerful attack gaining a penalty for a high tackle. Gethin Thomas found a good touch but the Tyrchs were in turn penalised for not throwing the ball in straight. Illts won the scrum and cleared the ball up to their 10 metre line. The Tyrchs won the lineout but knocked the ball on. Illts were under strong pressure at the resulting scrum which had to be reset twice. Illts eventually won the scrum but conceded a penalty. Gethin Thomas found another good touch, the Tyrchs won the lineout and Gruff Roberts took off on a mazy run through the Ilts defence. Illts were unlucky to knock the ball on in the tackle and the Tyrchs were awarded a scrum. The Tyrchs won the scrum and pressured the Illts defence and on the half hour Fin Barber scored a try near the right hand corner. The conversion was unsuccessful. Tyrchs 8 Illts 0.

Illts restarted the game and following a good catch and with the home supporters calling for the ball to be moved wide, scrum half Kierion Williams chipped the ball towards the corner flag and Nathan Williams running like a whippet caught the ball on the bounce and scored a good try. Gethin Thomas put over a very good conversion from near the touchline. Tyrchs 15 Illts 0.

Illts restarted the game and following a great catch and strong run by Ben Jones the Tyrchs were awarded a penalty which was converted by Gethin Thomas. 

Tyrchs 18 Illts 0.

Illts again restarted the game and after another good run by Ben Jones the ball, was kicked over the Illts defence. The Illts number 10 caught the ball, ran through the Tyrchs defence, chipped over the full back and scored a good try near the posts. He successfully kicked the the conversion. Tyrchs 18 Illts 7.

The Tyrchs restarted the game and after a scramble got the ball back. The Tyrchs put in an ambitious kick which found a reasonable touch. The Tyrchs knocked the ball on at the lineout; Illts won the resulting scrum and ran the ball really well into the Tyrchs 22. The Tyrchs defence held them out and with that the referee blew for half time.

Half Time Tyrchs 18 Illts 7.

Illts kicked off the second half and after making a good catch the Tyrchs were awarded a penalty for one of the Illts players being offside. Gethin found a good touch; the Tyrchs won the lineout and drove up to the Illts line. The Tyrchs regathered their efforts and got over the line. The referee deemed that the ball had been held up and Illts were awarded a drop out from their own line.

(What a negative law that is!!!)

The ball bounced into touch and after the Tyrchs won the following lineout the teams exchanged penalties and scrums with both teams seemingly to have lost their edge at half time. The game soon livened up with the Tyrchs being awarded a line out after Illts won a scrum and kicked up field.  The Tyrchs won the lineout and drove into the Illts 22 only to knock the ball on. Illts won the scrum but after a seemingly innocuous disagreement the referee yellow carded a Tyrchs player. Another Tyrchs player questioned the decision and that player was also yellow carded. The Tyrchs were now up against and following a penalty Illts sensed their chance and ran the ball well into the Tyrchs half. The Tyrchs defence stood strong and were awarded a penalty. Gethin Thomas found a good touch and following winning it the Tyrchs, (down two men) sensibly kept it tight continually driving towards the Illts line. The Tyrchs remained patient and in control with Adam Conway eventually crashing over for a try which was successfully converted by Gethin Thomas. 

Tyrchs 25 Illts 7.

Illts restarted the game and with Ben Jones making another good catch made progress up the field eventually being awarded a scrum. Scrums then went passive following successive injuries to Illts players. Tyrchs won the scrum and again made good progress again sensibly keeping it tight. The Tyrchs were awarded two penalties in succession and following a quick tap Gwilym Rees scored a try near the posts with Gethin Thomas converting. A very impressive performance bearing in mind the two absent players.

Tyrchs 32 Illts 7.

Illts restarted the game with the Tyrchs returning to 15 players and were awarded a penalty. Fair play the Illts remained positive and took a quick tap. Retaining the ball for a number of phases Illts scored a good try. The conversion was unsuccessful. 

Tyrchs 32 Illts 12.

The Tyrchs restarted the game made a good catch and exerted a great deal of pressure on the Illts defence. There followed a prolonged period of pressure during which the Tyrchs forwards drove over the Illts line. The referee decided that the ball had been knocked on over the line and Illts dropped out from their own line. The Tyrchs made a good catch and immediately applied more pressure resulting in Nathan Williams cutting inside and scoring near the posts. The try was successfully converted by Gethin Thomas,

Tyrchs 39 Illts 12.

Ilts restarted the game and following on exchange of scrums and penalties the referee blew for full time. A game played in good spirit. The Illts never gave up.

Final Score Tyrchs 39 Ilts 12.