Fixture

On a brisk November afternoon, Aberdare traveled to face Treorchy, aiming to leapfrog the young Zebras in the league standings. In a game charged with tension, yellow cards, and flashes of brilliance, the Snakes fought back valiantly but ultimately fell short, leaving with a losing bonus point after a 20-14 defeat.

The opening quarter saw both teams engage in a balanced battle, each probing for defensive weaknesses through dynamic phases, though neither side could break the deadlock. At the 16-minute mark, the momentum shifted slightly when Aberdare’s Owen Young saw yellow. Treorchy seized the opportunity and kicked a penalty, taking a narrow 3-0 lead.

As the half progressed, Treorchy gained a slight edge, mounting promising offensive breaks that tested Aberdare's defence. Just before the break, Aberdare’s discipline troubles continued when Jack Payne was shown a yellow card for an infringement in a driving maul. The Snakes’ situation worsened when Head Coach Rhys Shellard was sent to the bin in a controversial decision, leaving Aberdare down to 13 men. Treorchy capitalised on the advantage, working the ball wide to cross for a try, which they converted on the stroke of halftime, giving them a 10-0 lead.

Despite trailing by 10 points and dealing with three yellow cards, the Snakes could draw some encouragement from their defensive resilience through a challenging first half.

Unfortunately, the second half started poorly for Aberdare, still fielding only 13 players. Treorchy capitalised almost immediately, scoring another try and converting to extend their lead to 17-0. Soon after, a drop goal pushed the score to 20-0, seemingly putting the game out of Aberdare’s reach.

However, true to their fighting spirit, Aberdare refused to bow out quietly. They found their rhythm in the final 20 minutes, mounting relentless pressure on Treorchy’s defence. A thrilling play saw Owen Young break through and charge upfield, followed by a fumble from Treorchy. Kieron Parry pounced on the loose ball, linking up with Thomas Hopkins, who nearly scored before Rhys Shellard took the ball over the line. Garyn Payne added the conversion, bringing the score to 20-7.

Aberdare kept pressing, and Fin Shellard broke through Treorchy’s line, only to be stopped just short by a controversial tackle that drew gasps from the players and the crowd. From the resulting penalty, Aberdare opted for a scrum, and a further penalty was awarded to Aberdare from the scrum, quick thinking from Daniel Lewis saw him tap and go, dodging defenders to score. Payne’s boot brought Aberdare within striking distance at 20-14.

In the final minutes, Aberdare continued to apply pressure, but the clock ultimately ran out on their comeback. The Snakes left Treorchy with a hard-earned losing bonus point and a few “what ifs” about missed opportunities.

Congratulations to Treorchy on their well-deserved victory.

The boy's will now regroup with an eye on our next fixture against Cambrian, where the boys will be eager to bounce back.