Newly formed Penygraig came to Penrhys Park hoping to cause and upset but the experience and skills of the established Tigresses won them the game. For the first 20 minutes Penygraig were confident in attack and came at the home team but good defence kept the scoresheet blank.
After the first quarter of the game Tylorstown started to put together successive phases of play. From a quick tap penalty Sarah Evans got the ball out to Lulu Daniels who made a crashing run into the heart of the Penygraig defence. Good hands released the ball to Danni Isbell who ran in to score under the posts, and she duly converted her try. This was a special try from Isbell who was playing against the majority of her former Glamorgan University teammates.
After more pressure form the Tylorstown pack scrum half Gemma Allen released the ball to the backs. A good backs move resulted in winger Leah Lockyer cutting back in scoring her first try in a Tylorstown shirt. The try was also converted by Isbell to give Tylorstown a 14-nil lead at half time.
The start of the second half was much like the first with Penygraig attacking but the experience of the Tyly 15 holding out against the pressure. From a scrum near the Penygraig line the Tylorstown pack drove Penygraig off the ball. Outstanding Tylorstown scrum half Allen nipped over for an unconverted try.
In the last 5 minutes of the game to complete the scoring, Lynne Jones harried the Penygraig scrum half into fumbling the ball behind her own line and with cat-like agility pounced on the ball. Isbell converted the try to make the final score 26-0.
Although the result looked very comfortable credit goes to Penygraig who pushed Tylorstown through the game in this tough local derby.
If you are aged 17 or over and interested in playing rugby then please come along training to Penrhys Park every Monday and Wednesday at 7pm. Alternatively, call Rachel on 07917 035 473.
