Sport gairrhydd
OCTOBER.05.2008
FEATURES@gairrhydd.COM
gairrhydd
INSIDE: BUCS Rugby League
14
SPORT
continues, the full IMG roundup, and British Olympian Geraint Thomas
Cardiff 1sts 19 - 14 UWE 1sts
PHOTO: LIZ WRAY
OFF THE MARK Alasdair Robertson Sports Editor CARDIFF WEATHERED a second half fight back from UWE at a blustery Llanrumney in a game that should have been dead and buried at half time. The match was Cardiff’s first win of the season after a mixed performance saw them stutter to victory. The home team took the initiative early on, aided by a strong following wind, allowing them to control territory through an accurate kicking game and some powerful running from Tom Cooper at inside centre. Cardiff continued to attack and UWE indiscipline was rife throughout the early exchanges with the visitors failing to effectively clear their lines
and regularly infringing at the ruck. Cardiff’s enthusiasm was rewarded when a scrum in UWE’s 22 led to the first real scoring opportunity with a 5m scrum. Cardiff’s backline didn’t disappoint as Bret Chadwick came off his wing to crash over from first phase ball. Fly half Jack Perkins easily added the extras to give the home side a deserved 7-0 lead after 10 minutes. Twenty minutes passed before lock Joe Caunt clattered through the UWE defence on the halfway only to throw a wayward pass when two on one with the full back. The ensuing scrum was turned over by a powerful Cardiff pack and after great ball retention from the mobile back row an easy overlap was exploited by Harri Morgan to stretch Cardiff’s lead. A tough conversion was narrowly
missed to leave the home side sitting pretty at 12-0. The hosts’ dominance was evident but they all too often came away with nothing following their visits to the opponents’ 22. However Cardiff did manufacture a scoring opportunity when the impressive Tom Cooper sliced through, only to be held up 2m short. The UWE defence failed to reorganise in time and Bret Chadwick seized his second, crossing unchallenged from the following phase. Perkins again converted and Cardiff headed into the break 19-0 up and in cruise control. However, Cardiff’s dominance evaporated after the break as their fitter opponents grew in stature. Their previously sluggish pack began to grind down Cardiff’s defence as the
hosts’ discipline became non-existent and UWE pegged them back with some impressive kicking. Midway through the second half the visitors finally troubled the scorers, their big second rows doing the damage around the fringes of the ruck. The result was a scrappy try in the corner and a solid conversion from the touchline. Cardiff began to look tense and their nerves let the away side in again as the UWE fly half scythed through a hapless defensive line, beginning a great handling move from inside their own half with the outside centre, touching down unopposed. The successful conversion sparked a frantic final 10 minutes. The visitors surged towards the hosts’ line but Cardiff’s defence held strong to absorb wave after wave of
attack, much thanks to the energetic No. 8 and man of the match Nick Huntley. Although Cardiff prevailed 19-14 it was ultimately a game they should have wrapped up long before the final whistle. Nevertheless, Head Coach Martin Fowler was still happy with his Cardiff’s maiden victory but did criticise the scrum and fly halves for their inability to impose any sense of control on the game in the latter stages. He also lamented his side’s lack of a pre season: “Most other universities have at least a month more to prepare than us and hence it’s hard to hit the ground running. We’re not quite there yet but the win is something to build on. We’re heading in the right direction.”
-GAIR RHYDD AND QUENCH MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY UNION CARDIFF, PARK PLACE, CARDIFF CF10 3QN n REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT THE POST OFFICE n GAIR RHYDD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ALL CONTRIBUTIONS THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHERS n GAIR RHYDD IS WRITTEN, DESIGNED, TYPESET AND OUTPUT BY STUDENTS OF CARDIFF UNIVERSITY n LIZ BRINGS ANOTHER VICTIM HOME n THEN FALLS ASLEEP... IS IT WRONG? n ALI AND JOSH FASCINATED BY BESTIALITY n BEWARE WHALE EJACULATION n AISLING: "MY COLD, ICY HEART DOESN'T THROB FOR ANYONE" n ALI BETRAYS GAIR RHYDD WITH CHICKEN n AWARD WORTHY, MY ARSE