Treorchy RFC

The Oval, 17th April 2010 (report by Andy Baglan)

A glorious sunny day awaited both teams allowing them to play some fast flowing end to end rugby.

Treorchy opened the scoring after a change of play by centre Andrew Williams who then broke through the defence and off load to wing Rhydian Williams who finshed a great try.  Treorchy were playing some good rugby led by scrumhalf Gruff Williams and No.8 Robert Dobbs.

Aberdare were also playing some good rugby utilising their speed in the backline to good effect stretching the Ath's defence to the max with fullback Craig Davies and centre Tom Rees putting in a great defensive display.  Aberdare levelled matters after a clearance kick was charged down and regathered to score the try and leave the half time score 5-5.

The second half was played in the same manner as the first and Treorchy hit the score sheet first after Captain Ben Williams stole Dare's lineout and set off from halfway.  He reached the 22 and off loaded in a tackle to the supporting second row Andrew Gibbons who scored the try, converted by Andrew Williams.

Aberdare hit straight back though after the kick off was not dealt with and gave Aberdare a lineout deep in Treorchy half and after a couple of phases scored under the posts but the conversion hit the upright and Treorchy still led 12-10.

23rd January 2010 (report by Andy Baglan)

After a break of over 2 months without a game the Ath gathered a herd of new and old players to Edmonstown for some much needed rugby. With some regular team players unavailable some new faces to the team slotted in to great effect.

Treorchy, fielding a young pack, took the game to Penygraig and fronted up well to the more experienced home pack.  New prop Michael Watkins in his first game for a couple of years gave a good account of himself at the scrum as did new hooker Robert Jones.  Young outside half Ben Williams had a great debut scoring a try which was converted by fullback Jay Power who earlier slotted over a penalty.  Penygraig responded with a penalty of their own which took the Zebras into the second half with a confident lead of 10-3.

14th November 2009 (report by Andy Baglan)

The phone call came 1.30, the game was on, I couldn't believe it as I was looking at the sideways driving rain lashing down outside my window. But on arrival at Wattstown the field was in remarkable condition considering the conditions.

Treorchy started the game with 14 men with numerous players missing. The depleted team held firm to the early onslaught from the Home team, with some great last ditch defending. 15 minutes into the game Glen 'grizzly' Taylor decided to show his face and put us level at 15 aside only for 5 minutes thou as after a scuffle between the packs resulted in 'Grizzly' and Sion 'iechyd da' Owen leaving the field for 10 minutes.

With a strong wind behind the home team they used this to their advantage pinning Treorchy deep into their half on numerous occasions. The back three were all forwards playing extremely well out of position with Gruff and Ben Williams on the wings aided by the elusive Rhodri 'Blanco not Blonko, even my misses knows his proper name' Jones who's only downfall at fullback was his kicking like a Mule out of hand! Youth Outsidehalf Jordan Lloyd and Centre Andrew Williams could kick and got Treorchy out of some tricky situations.

The pack started getting the upper hand when the yellow card duo returned using some quality lineout ball from hooker Jonathan Thomas and Youth Second row Drew Watkins to get great driving mauls rolling up the field. A penalty just into the home teams half was quickly taken by another out of position player Dan Rees at scrumhalf who used his pace to race around some would be tacklers and head for the try line for a great solo try. Wattstown hit back with penalty to leave the half time score 5-3.  

Early into the second half veteran Glen Taylor made a great break from the side of a ruck putting Wattstown under pressure, quick ball was halted by an offside player and the awarded penalty was neatly struck over by Jordan Lloyd.

24th October 2009 (report by Andy Baglan)

The Athletic keep up their great form with a hard earned away victory.

In blustery autumn conditions the team were up against a strong Cefn Coed team. The first half was evenly matched with end to end rugby.  Daniel John was orchestrating matters from scrumhalf with a number of the backline out of position slotting in with great ease causing the home defence problems with some strong breaks. Outside half for the day Andrew Williams with new centre partnership of Jay Power and Tom Rees were causing havoc for the home defence.  The back row of Glen 'yellow card' Taylor, Hershall Gibbs and Jim Dobbs worked tirelessly all game. For all the zebras efforts though only a Jay Power penalty split the teams at half time.

The second half Treorchy started to show their quality and strength over the opposition and after veteran Glen Taylor made a great break supported by second rows Ben Williams and Jon Morgan setting up quick ball to the backline, a great miss move in midfield from outside half Andrew Williams to exciting youth product Tom Rees at outside centre who drew the opposing winger and fed a try scoring pass to wing Rhydian Williams touching down in the corner for a quality try, converted by Jay Power.

Cefn Coed used the wind to great advantage scoring 2 quick penalties to narrow the deficit and pinned Treorchy back in the last 10 minutes. Great defence from the back three of wings Mark 'albino' Power and Rhydian 'Viv Turan' Williams with fullback Robert 'Scotty 2 Hotty' Davies stopped any home attack gaining any try scoring chances. Solid defensive scrums from Treorchy held out the home attack with captain Ben Williams gathering the Zebras to front up to the onslaughts. The front row of Sion Owen, Dan Owens and hooker Gruff Williams were tremendous in the scrum, pushing the opposition back on numerous occasions.  Replacement young no.8 Drew Watkins made his mark in attack and defence.  Outside half Williams finished the game off for the home team after wrapping up his opposing number while they attacked the tryline and turning the ball over.

The whole team are now playing some great rugby but this week’s man of the match for outstanding tea making from the side lines via the back of his campervan is veteran second row Adrian Owen. 

17th October, 2009 (report by Andy Baglan)

Treorchy kept up their recent good form to produce another fine display on the Baglan Field in a gripping cup tie.  The whole squad produced some quality rugby and doors are being knocked for 1st team places.  

Tylorstown opened the scoring through a penalty, but their lead was short lived as Jay Power scored one shortly after to level matters.  Treorchy's pack again secured good ball for the backs allowing powerful centres Andrew Williams and Wyn Davies to breach the Tigers defence on numerous occasions.  Mid way through the half inside centre Williams smashed through the defence to score a great try.  Tylorstown scored a second penalty before half time to narrow the score to 8-6.

Mid way through the second half great interplay from brothers Sion and Dan Owen fed the backline whose deft hands let fullback Dan Rees finish off a top quality try that was converted by Jay Power.

Young centre Williams was causing havoc in Tylorstown’s defence with some powerful ball carries, giving great momentum for the pack to work off.  This resulted in a short range try for outstanding second row Jon Morgan, converted by Andrew Williams. 

Ill dicipline again from veteran Glen Taylor caused him to leave the field with a yellow card for back chat to the referee.  This put Tylorstown on attack in the final quarter but Treorchy held firm in defence to proceed to the next round.

Man of the match veteran second row Keith Evans.

10th October 2009 (report by Andy Baglan)

The Athletic got back to winning ways at the oval, with the forwards dominating lineouts and breakdowns giving the more physical backline some quality ball to work with.

With Treorchy fielding a great mixture of Youth and experience and a rare sight to see 4 sets of brothers on the field together with Glen and Kerry Taylor, Rhydian and Gruff Williams, Sion and Dan Owen plus Jay and Mark Power. 

Veteran No.8 Glen Taylor opened the scoring with a powerful charge from close range, converted by Jay Power.  Two further close range tries were scored by improving new second row Jonathan Morgan. The final try was scored by debut winger Robert Hart.

Special mention for debut Hooker Ron Jeremy but Man of the match is Prop 'up the bar' Mal Green.

3rd October 2009 (Report by Andy Baglan)

After two great wins in previous weeks, this was a disappointing loss away at Aberdare.  

The team from the start were making some unforced errors stopping any momentum and giving Aberdare the upper hand in the early exchanges. Both teams exchanged penalties but with the strong wind behind them Aberdare pinned Treorchy back deep in their half and scored 2 early tries. Treorchy got back into the game late in the half and scored a great try of their own finished off by Rhydian Williams.  

Treorchy's lineout was not the usual controlled unit and Aberdare won this contest making it difficult for the backline to get quality ball.  Aberdare struck again midway through the second half with a try in the corner.  

This seemed to wake Treorchy up, with prop forward Nathan Gough putting in a great kick down field, some strong breaks by second row Andrew Gibbons and flanker Hershal Gibbs getting Treorchy to the tryline countless times only for a great defensive display by Aberdare to keep them out.  

A late consolation converted try by replacement youth outside half Jordan Lloyd finished the match off.  

Men of the match Paul Rees and Garwyn Davies.

26th September 2009 (Report by Andy Baglan)

A local derby match at the oval turned out to be very entertaining game with Penygraig fielding a young team with plenty of pace against an experienced Treorchy outfit with some powerful ball carriers.

Treorchy scored a number of great tries after good powerful phases of rugby, wing Jay Power stood out on his return from injury scoring 3 tries.

Prop Nathan Gough fronted up well in his first match in the front row.  Youth centre Andrew Williams set the platform with some strong ball carries and New Zealand scrum half Daniel John impressed with his Mauri style of rugby.   But with a complete 80 minute performance man of the match goes to veteran hooker Jonathan K Thomas.

19th September 2009 (Report by Andy Baglan) 

A hard away win was achieved for Treorchy Athletic by a blend of Youth team members and some veteran players.

From the kick off Treorchy put Tonyrefail on the back foot with some strong running from the backline led by outstanding young outside half Jay Wasley.  Veteran No.8 Glen Taylor lead the pack with some great driving mauls resulting in a penalty kick which youth centre Andrew Williams converted from the half way line. 

Treorchy soon got their first try through the immense power of evergreen Glen Taylor driving over from close range.  Tonyrefail got their game going putting Treorchy deep into their own half.  The home team gathered a loose lineout ball and No.7 had a good break to the try line just powering over the final tackler to score an unconverted try.

The Treorchy pack got straight back at Tonyrevail causing the home team to give away numerous penalties which Andrew Williams kicked gaining great yardage to touch for the pack to use quality lineout ball to score their second try before half time with a blind side break through back row forward Darren Dibley.

The second half was an evenly contested battle with both teams creating scoring chances only for some handling errors on the final pass stopping would be tries. The Treorchy pack did manage a try after another quality lineout orchestrated by debut hooker Jonathan Thomas, a barraging run from Youth prop Rhys Gillard taking a number of home team tacklers with him over the try line for a great score. 

Man of the match Ben 'Dooms day machine' Williams