When it rain's it pours

By Paul
December 23 2002

Premiership rugby returned in vengeance this weekend. In one match the player's could barely see the ball and in the other the players were in danger of drowning. Welcome back.

Pontypridd 12-10 Cardiff

Why on earth the match at Sardis road went ahead is anyone's guess, but who ever allowed the eighty minutes of constant errors caused by the water logged ground, which by the end of the first half was a nothing short of a bog, should have some responsibility to the players, coaches and most importantly the fan's. If you had the misfortune to sit through that rubbish you have my full sympathies, you have to feel for the players who have trained all week and cannot play anything remotely near their usual standard. The benefactor's who pay their wages, have no result. Sardis road isn't the hardest pitch, even on the driest of day's. This evening's match was a farce, demonstrated by Rhys William's try in the first half when the winger dived at least 10 yard's before the line, and slid over the line to score.

As for the match Pontypridd's forwards gained there expected dominance over the game, and aided by Jenkins they built up a nine point lead, in - between consistent knock on's and collapsed scrums. But Cardiff stunned the home side just before the interval with a well worked try by Rhys Williams who slid over to make it 9-7. The Blue and Blacks suffered through their indiscipline, Robin Appleyard was sin-binned for giving the touch judge a lecture, Rogers and Fourie both struggled in the scrum, even more than usual with the slippery surface playing havoc with either sides forwards.

The second half continued in a similar ridiculous manner to the first, neither side were able to build up a substantial period of play, and when they could both sides defensive attitudes won out, some great last ditch tackling on show. Harris grabbed another penalty, but the last one he struck against the up right's proved costly.

To their credit both sides were 100 percent committed, but they just couldn't produce the standard of a match with such importance between too fierce rivals. Click here for the Ponty fan's version of things.

Ebbw Vale 20-8 Llanelli

The other matches saw two spirited performances, from the two seemingly eternal strugglers. Ebbw Vale deserve all lot of credit for outplaying an under strength Turks outfit. Caerphilly pushed Swansea within a point at Virginia park, and may even have won, if Justin Thomas had not let them down with crucial penalty misses.

The Steel men were forced to bring their clash forward when they realised that only 6 of the floodlights at Eugene Cross Park were working, only they know what was wrong with the other 18. So the match kicked off at quarter too two with a thick fog over the pitch. The Turks seemed uninterested and unmotivated. Such a lifeless display by a 2nd XV only serves to show how seriously they're taking the competition. But they can't be blamed, what significance did yesterday's match really have? There was no Heineken cup qualification at stake, with either super club's or provinces guaranteed, all there was, was pride something Ebbw had more of.

A high ball was cowardly dropped deep inside the Llanelli 22, and Richard Davies collected to seal a memorable victory, mainly thanks to the boot of former Connacht player Ryan Shelbourne, kicking 5 penalties. A Barry Davies try proved only to be a consolation. The decision by Gareth Jenkins not to make more substitutions in the second half was mystifying.

Caerphilly 19-20 Swansea

How much lower can Swansea sink? Having been beaten by Ebbw Vale earlier in the season, they seemed to be content to sneak a one point win over Caerphilly. Considering they only won the league a season and a half ago, this is not a result they should be pleased with. Caerphilly were unlucky not to win, the strugglers went down to their third defeat of the season, even with a 22-7 penalty count in their favour. Two late penalty attempts from Justin Thomas could have won it for the cheese men. Tries from Arwel Thomas and Scott Gibbs for Swansea just swayed it in the Jacks favour.

Whatever you thought about the games leave your opinion on the message board.

Next up in the Christmas festivities is boxing day clashes between Llanelli and Newport, Cardiff and Ebbw Vale, Bridgend and Caerphilly. The next day Neath and Swansea face each other. keep up to date with all the fixtures, results & Table by clicking here.

It can't get any worse (fingers crossed)...........