Fixture

Not even the UK’s biggest earthquake in a decade could shake Alltwen out of the stupor that cost them a win at Glyncorrwg on Saturday 17th Feb.

Whilst conditions were not perfect after a week of rain, a dry day saw Glyncorrwg make sensible use of a stiff first half breeze to relieve whatever pressure Alltwen tried to exert.

The changing point occurred at around the half hour mark after Jason Richards had missed a relatively straightforward penalty kick that he blamed on the ground shaking. Since the earth has never moved for him before, this is unlikely. The miss eventually allowed Glyncorrwg to escape their lines with a clearing kick deep into the Alltwen 22. From the resulting lineout the home side managed to rumble an unconverted try which meant that instead of turning round 3-0 ahead Alltwen faced a half time deficit of 5-0.

Whatever earth tremors that may have occurred, can only have served to shake the visitor's brains to scrambled eggs, as Alltwen failed to appreciate the value of a good breeze and territory. Time and again Alltwen tried to play out of their own half, instead of securing position first and then aiming to pressurise their opponents nearer their line.

Glyncorrwg, who otherwise failed to threaten, were again allowed to escape courtesy of a penalty goal, forcing Alltwen to chase the game in conditions which called for territory first. Paul James as substitute scrum half began rallying his pack well and a series of rolling mauls at least gave Alltwen a platform denied them most of the game. Alas it was too little too late, allowing only a penalty goal from Richards with the last kick of the game to rescue a losing bonus point for his side.

Alltwen will now seek a return to firmer ground in the visit to Cefn Cribbwr Saturday 3^rd March 14:30