Sully View RFC 48

Cathays RFC 19

AFTER the previous week’s hammering, Sully View RFC were determined to get back on track, as they sought the double over their Cardiff opponents, and attacked from the kick-off.

But on reaching the visitors’ 22, they lost possession, and Cathays’ strong running backs were only foiled back in the Sully 22.

Cathays were awarded two penalties in quick succession, and taking them quickly before the home defence could get back in place, they scored a good try to take the lead, and seemingly knock back Sully View’s ambitions to recover from last week’s drubbing.

The conversion was never taken, when the referee called time over the kicker taking too long in his preparations.

Stung into action, Sully took control up front, and behind their threes ran with power and good angles, and with the ball carrier always having at least one player in support, they took complete control of the game, and by the break they had opened up a 24 point lead, with tries from Adam Wheeler, Dai Harris and Nathan Taylor, and Chris Cummings adding two conversions and a penalty.

In the early minutes of the second half, Cathays regained some of their composure, and were able to use the powerful backs to good effect, soon scoring a converted try to give themselves a glimmer of hope.

Prop Jody Velda - celebrating his birthday - then received a card off the referee, unfortunately it was yellow, and off to the bin for 10 minutes.

Even down a man, Sully View again took control, but it wasn’t until Velda returned that they got their next try, which was converted by Cummings, and a bonus point, and it had to be the birthday boy himself who broke through for this vital score.

This was quickly followed by an unconverted try for lock Alex Szuchnik, and now it appeared that Sully would score at will, but on Sully View’s next attack the visitors’ scrum half was sin-binned when he tackled the Sully winger just before he received a try scoring pass.

Sully soon made the numerical supremacy tell as D Russell ran in for another converted try.

To their credit, being a man down and seemingly with no answer to Sully’s power, Cathays pulled themselves together and got into the home 22, and laid siege to the line, eventually scoring their second converted try.

There was still 20 minutes left of this highly entertaining, and high scoring game, and both sides had something to achieve – Sully were looking to breach the 50 point mark and to increase their season’s overall try count which could make a difference to their final league position, and Cathays were after one more try, at least, to gain a bonus point.

Surprisingly, although the game continued to be open and flowing, neither side were able to add to their tally, as both sides’ last line of defence stood firm, and Sully ran out 48 – 19 victors.

The only down to the weekend was the postponement of Sully View’s 2nd XV fixture (home to Caerau) as more than 30 players made themselves unavailable, or did not notify the club as to their availability.

With the 2nds only having a handful of official fixtures, it is extremely disappointing not to be able to fulfil all of them, and even arrange a few friendlies, with such a large pool of players.

All players are urged to take a more active involvement in training, and communication over availability.

The next fixture is on Saturday, January 28, and will see Sully View travel to second placed Hirwaun – meet at the clubhouse at noon.

The next old members reunion will be held at the Market Street Club on Friday, January 27, and the oldies are always happy to welcome past and present players/members for an easy going social – drinking, swapping tales and even a few rugby songs.

As at every reunion so far, new faces appear, adding to the font of friendships, and enriching the songs, stories, and memories, of the “better” times gone by. Again the reunion will raise money for a local charity, as identified by, and closely connected to, the players themselves.