Plate perfect!

10:52am Wednesday 30th April 2008

Ystradgynlais 52 Cefneithin 10 West Wales Tovali Plate Ystrad won their first West Wales trophy for 70 years by beating Cefneithin in this year's Tovali Plate final.

The game began with Ystrad taking control and it wasn't long until the Blues crossed for their first try through dynamic flanker Richard Lougher.

The move began when dazzling full back Sean Harries picked the ball up in his 22 and ran an impressive 50 yards beating want to be defenders with ease before being hauled down. Ystrad secured possession and from the resulting ruck inspirational hooker Christopher Thomas broke through to supply the supporting flanker with a try scoring pass.

It wasn't long before the Ystrad faithful were again cheering as maverick outside half Hywel Evans made a telling break and beat two men to score under the posts.

He converted the try and Ystrad were leading by 12 points in as many minutes.

Cefneithin, to their credit, rallied back and pressed the Ystrad defence for an intense 10 minute period.

The Blues were equal to the challenge and coach Steve Bayliss' defiant attitude came through in the players with committed and courageous defence.

Not long after sustaining the pressure Ystrad managed to break away and place the ball in the opposition 22.

Cefneithin gained possession but great pressure from the boys in Blue allowed outside half Hywel Evans to charge down a kick, retrieve the ball and miraculously place it for his second try.

Ystrad were thriving on the quick pace of the game and two more tries followed for the Blues before half time through full back Harries and winger Justin Parsons. Hywel Evans magnificently converted both and the Blues led 31 - 0 at half time.

The second half began as the first ended with Ystrad again taken control and it wasn't long until the Blues scored again.

This time the honour fell to veteran number eight David Love, via a well worked driving line out. Hywel Evans stepped up with the confidence of Daniel Carter and slotted the conversion directly through the posts.

The next try came from the kick off with the ball travelling the length of the field with the ball being majestically passed through 13 pairs of handsbefore being finished off under the posts by the show stopper David Love. Hywel again added the extras and Ystrad were cruising.

With the score at forty five nil at the 55 minute mark most thought they would be witnessing a cricket score but to Cefneithin's credit they were far too proud to allow that to happen and began a mini fight-back. The next two tries belonged to them. The first try came from a well worked driving line out which saw forward Richard Evans score and the second was a spectacular team try started deep in their twenty two which was reminiscent of Japans v Wales during the world cup. The try scored by winger Iwan Price.

Ystrad needed to raise the tempo again and normal proceedings did resume in the final quarter when elusive scrum half Daniel Holsgrove took a quick penalty to score a brilliant opportunist try. Replacement Dane Clancy took over the kicking and claimed the Blue two more points.

The game ended 52 - 10 in favour of the Swansea Valley side and number eight David Love was awarded man of the match.

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