Fixture

Post-Match Report: Snakes 10-25 Rumney Squad

The Snakes kicked off their season at home this weekend but faced a tough challenge in a well-drilled and physical Rumney Squad. The visitors showed their intent early on with an aggressive offload game that kept their attack fluid and constantly moving forward, testing the Snakes’ defence throughout the match.

The first 30 minutes were a tight, hard-fought contest, with both teams trading possession and probing for openings. However, it was Rumney who dominated the territorial game, putting Aberdare under pressure with consistent ball retention. The deadlock was finally broken when Rumney’s outside half capitalised on a penalty opportunity to make it 0-3.

Aberdare responded quickly, levelling the score at 3-3 thanks to a penalty from Centre Garyn Payne. Despite both teams trying to unlock the defence with some positive phases of play, a combination of handling errors and strong defensive work kept the scoreline even until halftime.

The second half saw Rumney come out firing. Following a period of sustained pressure and some slick offloading, they eventually breached Aberdare’s defensive line for the game’s first try. With the successful conversion, the score moved to 3-10 in favour of the visitors.

Once again, the Snakes demonstrated resilience. A well-executed driving maul from a 5-meter lineout set the stage for Daniel Shanahan to power over the try line, with Payne converting to bring the score back to 10-10, setting up a nail-biting final quarter.

Rumney, however, showed their experience and composure in key moments. A driving maul of their own allowed them to regain the lead after their back-row player muscled over for a second try, which was converted, making it 10-17. Aberdare continued to fight and apply pressure but struggled to break down the Rumney defence. The turning point came around the 65th minute when Rumney earned a penalty deep in Aberdare territory, which their outside half calmly slotted to extend the lead to 10-20.

With momentum on their side, Rumney controlled the remainder of the match, capping off their performance with a third try, this time through their forwards, sealing the win at 10-25.

The Snakes showed flashes of promise, particularly in their resilience, but ultimately Rumney’s physicality and superior offloading game proved decisive. Aberdare will take lessons from this performance as they prepare for next week’s trip to St. Peters. Despite the loss, there are positives to build on as the season progresses.