Report: University of South Wales 46-24 University of the West of England

by Tom Pritchard

Date: Wednesday 14 February 2018 (17:30)

Venue: Sardis Road, Pontypridd

THE University of South Wales Men’s 1^st climbed to third in the BUCS South A with a commanding victory over The University of the West of England, their fourth win in as many games.

USW opened the scoring in the fifth minute. They were awarded a penalty after UWE were offside from a kick, they kicked it to the corner and set up a driving maul from the lineout, which steamrolled its way over the line.

The Bristol-based team responded immediately however. They won the ball back from the restart and the openside flanker had a clear run to the line, the conversion was good to level the scores.

The home side took the lead in the 18^th minute after a shunt forward in the scrum put them on the front foot, and the ball was passed back to fly-half Foard Cooksley who delayed his pass and put winger Kris Richards in the left corner.

UWE reduced the deficit in the 20^th minute after Joe Popple was penalised in front of the posts for taking the scrum-half before the ball was out. The penalty goal was good and UWE were back within touching distance.

USW had their third try seven minutes later. A five-metre scrum was driven forward and it was left to skipper Gareth Jones to dive over.

With 10 minutes to go until half-time, Ben Daniels’ side secured the try bonus-point after they broke down-field from the restart, secured a few phases and Sion Edwards broke through and slid underneath the posts.

It only took two minutes for the leagues bottom side to reply. They charged down a kick in USW’s 22, and the ball fell to the outside-half who gathered and touched down to bring his side back to within seven points.

The Treforest-based side finished the opening period strongly. A line-out deep in UWE’s half resulted in a maul which was sacked, and from the first phase, a pass to Edwards saw him break the defensive line and give him a clear path to the line for his second try of the game.

UWE made a fast start to the second half as their outside-centre made a strong run from deep, broke the line and charged his way towards the line to reduce the deficit to seven points once more.

A mistake from the restart gave USW a penalty, which was kicked to the corner and allowed the home side to set up a maul which was driven over for the second time in the game. Edwards was the beneficiary as he sealed a brilliant hat-trick to put his side into a commanding lead.

It looked as if USW were going to score their third rolling maul try of the game in the 52^nd, however they were penalised for driving ahead of the man with the ball, much to the relief of the West of England forwards.

USW extended their lead in 58^th minute. Quick ball in UWE’s 22 allowed USW to surge forward, some fast hands allowed them to create an overlap in the right corner, presenting winger Richards with his second try of the evening.

The home side rounded off the scoring with the last play of the game. The ball was kicked across field, UWE’s left winger attempted to field the ball but knocked it on, Jones picked it up and went for the line, but was well tackled, however he was able to offload to winger Marcus Jones who acrobatically leaped over the number 11 to score an eye-catching try.

University of South Wales travel to the Sports Fields in Llanrumney to face Cardiff University next Wednesday in their final game of the league season, hoping for a victory that will secure their position in the top three of the BUCS South A.