Fixture

Alltwen gained their most notable victory of the season by beating top of the table rivals Cefn Cribbwr in a pulsating game at Gwyn St, Saturday 18^th Feb.

In a game which may yet determine this season’s champions, Cefn Cribbwr arrived at Alltwen with a ten-point table lead, having played two games more than their Swansea valley rivals.  Victory for the visitors would have made the title a virtual certainty.

If anybody wondered why these two teams are top of their division, their questions were quickly answered as both sides showed total commitment from the outset. Early cut and thrust from both teams was met with solid defence and with thirty minutes gone only two visitor penalty goals to one reply by Alltwen’s Jason Richards separated the sides.

Then came the two decisive moments of the half which swung the game in favour of the home team. Firstly Alltwen wing Rhodri Lewis saved an almost certain try with a fantastic last-ditch tackle at the corner flag. Then as Alltwen switched to attack, some excellent blind-side interplay resulted in a try by Alltwen fly half Kyle Roberts, allowing the home side to enter half-time with a psychologically important lead.

Cefn Cribbwr were not about to easily sacrifice their top team status however and by mid-way through the second half had pulled themselves back to 11-11, courtesy of a try in response to a penalty goal from Alltwen’s Andrew Roberts.

What followed was probably the most intense and exciting finish to a contest seen at Gwyn St for many a season, with everything at stake for both sides but neither willing to give an inch in defence, despite growing numbers of walking wounded.  Closest to scoring was Rhodri Lewis who came within inches of a try, with the referee ruling ball held up, as Cefn Cribbwr refused to concede. Ultimately it was Lewis who got the vital score in similar close combat circumstances at the opposite flag. Jason Richards then nearly put the visitors out of bonus point reach, only to see his well struck penalty hit the post. In a frantic finish it then became Alltwen’s turn to hold out defensively, until the welcome relief of the referees final whistle.

Both sides deserve full credit for an excellent game played hard but in good spirit. For Alltwen there were fifteen heroes but special mention must go to Kyle Roberts for his man of the match performance, half back partner Paul James who played out of his skin, Rhodri Lewis for his vital contributions in defence and attack and the whole Alltwen pack united behind skipper Dan Madge.

Maintaining this form should hopefully secure Alltwen promotion at season’s end. Whilst the deserved bonus point secured by Cefn Cribbwr may yet prove decisive in who wins the division title, the visitors will not forget the day they put their top dog status on the line at Alltwen, and lost.