Caerphilly Falcons take Ivor Williams Cup (From Campaign Series)

Caerphilly Falcons take Ivor Williams Cup

1:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Sport

Caerphilly 2nd XV 20 Llantrisant 2nd XV 11

CAERPHILLY Falcons defeated Llantrisant 20-11, to take the Ivor Williams Cup on Monday.

Llantrisant travelled to Virginia Park with a bigger and more experienced side, yet the Falcons managed to stay in touch before taking the lead late in the second half, which they never relinquished.

It was the visitors who took first blood, courtesy of the boot of scrum half Scott Curnell on seven minutes.

Curnell was also instrumental in the next score. Having won a scrum on the 22, Curnell put a good kick behind the Caerphilly defence for outside half Guy Griffiths to score in the corner.

Caerphilly opened their scoring on 19 minutes. Breaking from deep, down the left, the recycled ball was moved right and centre Damian Corns went over in the corner.

Another penalty from Curnell extended Llantrisant’s lead just minutes later, Caerphilly losing the restart and giving away a penalty for not releasing on the floor.

Marklan Jackson completed a solo try on 31 minutes. Collecting a high ball in centre field on the half way line, Jackson broke through the Llantrisant defence to cross the try line, closing the gap to a point.

Two yellow cards for the visitors reduced them to 13 men at the half way point, with a 10-11 point lead.

Caerphilly failed to capitalise on the extra numbers. Fifteen minutes of pressure was met by stern defence from the Falcons, and with the numbers again equal, the visitors laid siege on the Caerphilly line. Having soaked up the pressure Caerphilly turned up the heat, spending time in the Llantrisant half before winning a penalty on 73 minutes. Replacement Mitchell Starr stepped up to convert, putting the home side in the lead for the first time.

Despite the pressure from the visitors, the Falcons held firm. The last five minutes of the game were spent in the Llantrisant 22, Caerphilly maintaining possession through a series of rucks and maul’s. The end came as the Falcons drew in defence, at the maul, sucking in the defence before moving the ball left. An overlap gave winger Matthew Jones the easiest of tries as he crossed the line in the corner, and placed the ball almost under the posts. Starr added the conversion. Caerphilly’s firsts travel to Pontypool this weekend, in the league, kick off 2.30pm.

The seconds are at Llantrisant in the league, the youth play Ebbw Vale at home.

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