Under brilliant blue skies, the match began at a frenetic pace with the Crumlin captain giving his side the perfect start after his pack destroyed the Ferndale engine room to put his side on the front foot. With quick ball, he danced his way over to give Ryan Lewis the easiest of conversions to give Crumlin an early 7-0 lead.
Ferndale then had their first period on attack and came away with a Kieron Parrish penalty.
Ferndale gradually grew into the game with their physical approach causing a few headaches for Crumlin.
Second row Steve Daniels used his bulk to power over in the corner to put Ferndale in front for the first time in the match halfway through the first half. Parrish added the extras from the touchline to put Ferndale 10-7 ahead.
Lewis levelled the scores with a short range penalty and then Crumlin hit the front when Ferndale scrum half Rhys Jones was sent to the sin bin for not retreating 10m from a quick tap. The penalty try awarded gave Crumlin a 17-10 lead.
Ferndale had a chance to reduce the arrears, but Parrish pulled his penalty attempt wide. Crumlin made their extra man count when full back Joel Whitcombe cut loose and sent winger Dylan Foxwell clear. Lewis’s conversion put clear daylight between the teams for the first time in the match and they headed down the tunnel ahead 24-10 at the break.
Loosehead prop Andrew Headford piled over to bring Ferndale back into the game and with Parrish’s conversion, it was back to a one score game.
Scrum half Cole Jones sniped from a dominant Crumlin scrum and Lewis’ conversion put Crumlin 31-17 ahead.
Headford grabbed his second of the game, picking a great line against the grain. Parrish added the extras to bring the game back to a seven point game.
Ferndale camped inside Crumlin’s 22 but their inability to claim ball from their own line-out
With hooker Jacob Hill in the sin bin, Crumlin sealed victory when Chess kicked through the last line of defence and win the race to the try line to bookend the match with the opening and closing try of the match.
Scorers:
Crumlin
Tries – Ethan Chess (2), Pen try, Dylan Foxwell, Cole Jones; Cons – Ryan Lewis (3), Scot Barnes; Pen – Ryan Lewis
Ferndale
Tries: Steve Daniels, Andrew Headford (2); Con Kieran Parrish (3); Pen: Kieron Parrish
