Fixture

Dowlais VS Senghennydd 05/03/2022 Match Report

Score:

Dowlais: 29

Senghennydd: 17

An excellent victory for Dolwais this week, with a 29-17 win at home against Senghennydd.

Dowlais managed to start the match off on the right foot, and continued to do so for the entirety of the first half. Within minutes, the home side already had a try under their belts, touched down by Luke Price and later converted by Nathan Pritchard after an impressive early offensive effort.

The early break onto the score board was a reassuring sight to supporters, and from there, things only kept going. Dowlais continually managed to get themselves into the Senghennydd twenty-two time and again throughout the first half, giving the visitors little to no chance to break out of their own half.

Three more times, their efforts were rewarded with further tries, widening the gap between both sides more and more with each passing minute. Dowlais’ second try was touched down by Morgan Powell, their third by James Woods and the fourth by Nathan Pritchard.

Although none were converted, the great attacking efforts across the first forty minutes gave the home side a very comfortable lead of 22-0 going into half time, far ahead of their opponents and with a bonus point already obtained.

Hopes were high as the second half’s first whistle sounded, but for a moment, things began to look ominous. In the opening 20 minutes of the second half, it appeared as though Senghennydd had something of a second wind, finally managing to break into the Dowlais twenty-two, and furthermore managing to stay there.

The visiting side came at the Dowlais try-line with greater vigour than they had at any point in the first half, and concerningly fast, they were able to score two tries, one converted, bringing the score to 22-12 and closing Dowlais’ lead unnervingly quickly.

But those two strikes would prove to be Senghennydd’s last for the game. Just as they got their offensive machine running again for what they were no doubt hoping would be their third try – maybe even bringing them within distance to take the lead with a penalty or drop goal – an interception and brilliant run across most of the pitch and try from Sam Davies left those hopes in the dust very quickly.

A conversion from Nathan Pritchard brought the score up to 29-12, and seemed to promptly put an end to Senghennydd’s counterattack. While the remaining time of the game was by no means effortless, the visitors’ offense seemed to die off somewhat, and with their respectable lead and bonus point already obtained, all the home side had to do was play simply and maintain their lead, which they managed.

The score board remained unchanged for the rest of the game, and with a wide berth between both of their scores, the game ended with a 29-12 win for Dowlais.

I think very little bad could be said about the performance this week. Dowlais simply played a good, solid game of rugby, took their chances to score when they arose and managed to defend admirably for the most part when they had to.

Senghennydd’s second wind and quick two tries at the start of the second half were a little bit unnerving, and perhaps the boys would do well to take care with those kinds of comebacks in the future, but overall, I’d say this was a performance that all of the players and supporters can be happy with.

Let’s hope that this kind of play can lead the boys to victory again next week, as Dowlais play away at Pontypool United.