By Reef Parker
USW men’s 1sts endured a day to forget, going down heavily against Cardiff Medics and also losing a player to a serious injury.
The two teams were forced to switch pitches with 25 minutes left, with USW’s Dylan Lowe needing medical attention. The extent of his injury was unclear.
It was a positive start for USW as openside flanker Lloyd Morris won two penalties at the breakdown in the first five minutes of play. But the hosts were unable to take the lead through the boot of captain, Sam Haysom, and then deteriorated.
USW’s pack withstood a few phases of pressure five metres out from their try line but eventually it was the Medics who opened the scoring through flanker, Dominic Stangroome after he scooped up a disguised offload.
Fly-half, Edward Slater converted the try and pushed the score to 7-0 inside the opening 15 minutes.
Shortly after, from a tap and go, it was Medics captain Harry Davies who broke free from a number of USW tackles and finished a great solo run with a try Slater again improved for a 14-0 lead.
Medics No8 Osian Jones grabbed a third try for the visitors when he got on the end of another clever Slater offload to go under the posts.
After another successful conversion the game looked to be done and dusted by half time as a dejected USW trailed 21-0.
Pic: Eleanor Clifton
USW fortunes didn’t change in the second half, especially with Slater pulling the strings for the Medics.
His perfect kick to the corner resulted in relentless phase play from his side, and it wasn’t long before the Medics bowled over USW’s try line again, this time through inside centre, Dan Thomas.
Unable to capitalise on the Medics going down to 14-men after prop Danny Lloyds was given a yellow, Lowe’s injury saw a prolonged break in the game as the pitch was switched.
The change of scenery looked to be welcome for USW as within seconds of the restart Dylan Cotterell charged through the Medics defensive line to put USW’s first points on the board. Fly-half Phil Papworth successfully converted to reduce the deficit to 26-7.
USW’s momentum didn’t last long as the Medics brutally reeled off three tries in five minutes to put the game to bed.
Winger Dan Gollings, scrum-half Renny and centre Gabriel Knight all crossed the line to complete the rout.
USW will look to put this defeat behind them with an away trip to Exeter to play their 5ths side next time out.