Archive - Tuesday, 9 October 2001


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Whitland surrender early lead

Rumney 39 Whitland 13

Whitland hopes of a first win of the season were raised in Cardiff as they took an early 10-3 lead against Rumney - but the Borderers conceded two tries just before the interval to trail 19-10 at the break.

It was a similar story after the restart as Rumney conceded a drop goal almost from the kick off, had centre Sengili Tuihalamaka sin-binned soon afterwards and were forced to play catch-up rugby and they gave away another three tries, two of them in time added on for injury.

To be fair to Whitland, their cause wasnt helped by some refereeing decisions which invariably went against them and after their bright start the confidence drained away as Rumney exerted pressure which they turned into points as the Borderers lost a little discipline in response to the officials decisions against them.

Yet it had all started so well for the Borderers after Matthew Silva had given the home side an early lead with a penalty.

Whitland quickly attacked and good ball supplied by Steve Gerrard, Phil Morgan and Mike Buckingham allowed Andrew Jenkins to release partner Daniel Griffiths, the fly half darting past defenders to score a try at the posts which he also converted with ease.

A Griffiths penalty increased the Borderers advantage to seven points before Silva slotted his second kick and as the Whitland pack found itself penalised in the close exchanges then Rumney grabbed tries by lock Phil Langley and flanker Neil Coles. Silva missed both conversions but notched a late penalty, followed by that snap drop goal after the break.

Daniel Griffiths reduced the deficit with a penalty while Sunny Tuilahamaka was in the sin-bin but Rumney made sure of success with further tries by lock Greg Harrington, centre Neil Stock and prop Neil Hennessey - leaving Whitland still bottom of the table with a played seven, lost seven, record they will be desperate to improve.

Whitland: Wayne Lewis: Craig Richards; Domenico Setaro; Sengili Tuilahamaka; Matiake Mafi (Steve Butcher): Daniel Griffiths (Simon Rogers); Andrew Jenkins (Rob Phillips): Romeo Colella (Gareth Williams); Steve Gerrard; Ricky Davies: Dai Ebsworth; Fakataha Molitka: Mike Buckingham; Phil Morgan (Mark Hughes); Randall Williams (Rob Norton).