Sports musings

Rugby Notes

Number 8 Ashley Sweet gets his try

Ebbw Vale got back on winning ways on Saturday with a convincing 44-18 win over previously unbeaten Gilfach Goch.

The pack dominated, completely unlike last week. The reshuffled pack seemed to work with Calum Brennan adding some size to the second row, Ashley Sweet played at number 8 for the first time, and Ben Parry had his best game for the club, and was my MotM.

Derrick Tredray made sure the ball was used quicker than in previous weeks, Tristan Davies brought some experience to a backline which sometimes is a bit like a headless chicken.

It also has to be said that the referee, Phil Connett has a top game; from the start he didn’t take any nonsense and made sure that both sides were allowed room to play rugby.

Scorers: 3 tries for Wes Cunliffe and one each for Tom Daly, Dan Dearden and Ashley Sweet, with 4 conversions and 2 penalties for Dorian Jones.

Next up, Treorchy away.

RWC Thoughts

Wales v Namibia in shadow of Mount Taranaki

I think that I take back what I said. On the form they showed against France, there is only one winner in this tournament. It was a game for the first ten minutes and then New Zealand exploded with three tries and it was all over.

I think that Scotland blew a golden chance to beat Argentina yesterday. Not the best game of the tournament but certainly the tensest.

I think that Wales haven’t been that clinical in finishing off a team for many years. The 12 tries in the 81-7 demolition showed a confidence that’s been missing for a long, long time.

I think that the best two quotes of the completion so far came this weekend:

·         Fancois Pienaar: “the only difference between my jog and my flat-out run was the expression on my face.”

·         “Alfie” Thomas on Gethin Jenkins’ try: “at that point I think he could smell the burger van behind the try line.”

I think that the commentators need to shut up a bit more. We never get to hear the referee’s explanation of a decision; rather we get some idiot guessing.

I think that Wales playing at Taranaki reminded me of watching a Taranaki side featuring All Black hooker Hika Reid playing at Tredegar many years ago. It seems that club tours have become a thing of the past.

I think that Scotland coach Andy Robinson is looking more and more like Clive Anderson.

I think that barring a freak result (Scotland thrashing England or South Africa losing to Samoa) the quarter finals are now set:

·         Wales v Ireland

·         England v France

·         South Africa v Australia

·         New Zealand v Argentina

Glamorgan Notes

In an enormous act of faith in a) Glamorgan cricket and b) the weather, I have purchased a Glamorgan season ticket for 2012. Its early bird price of just £99 makes a lot more sense than their pricing policies of the last few years.

I will probably be investing in a ticket for the England v South Africa game at Sophia Gardens too, but might wait to see what Santa brings me.

As he’s going to have to be busy over the next few years too, as in the last week Glamorgan has been announced as hosts of test matches against New Zealand (2013) and Australia (2015).

There is a good review of the not-so-good season on the Turn and Bounce blog.