Jamin Hodgkins and his Glamorgan Wanderers were straight out of the blocks on their way to defeating St Peters 28 – 21.
Morgan Williams and Gruff Tough were prominent in the home side attacks and a clear threat but the final try-scoring pass eluded the Wanderers time and time again.
A penalty at the end of the first quarter gave the home side a chance to get the scoreboard moving but a Hodgkins shot went just wide keeping it at 0-0, but eventually, the deadlock was broken.
A lineout in the St Peters half was moved into midfield. Cameron Growcott broke through the defense and took play deep into the St Peters territory. He offloaded to Aron Arthur who fed Steff Davies who raced away to score the first Try of the game, Hodgkins converted 7-0.
After 28 minutes the visitors finally got their game together and managed to enter the Wanderers 22. Showing that they certainly had weapons up their sleeve they started to mount attacks of their own. The Wanderers' defence dug deep but despite repelling several drives St Peters found a way to score and they levelled it up with their first try 7-7.
The home side responded to the setback and struck straight back. A penalty at the kick-off saw the penalty reversed for backchat and the Wanderers took full advantage. Hodgkins kicked deep and the subsequent driving lineout saw hooker Ben Rhodes crash over for his first try for the club, Hodgkins converted making it 14-7.
St Peters, revived by halftime, came at the Wanderers from the kick-off. Setting up a series of drives and attacks in the home side 22. With both forwards and backs carrying well they pummeled the line but the young Wanderers side dug really deep to keep them at bay. The assault lasted a clear 10 minutes but St Peters could not break the home side down and eventually, the pressure was relieved in the mud and the home side cleared their lines downfield.
The game switched to the Wanderers on the attack and from the first attack of the half the home side extended their lead. Once again, the ball went wide, and neat work from Ned Bennett and Aron Arthur down the right wing put Tough in space and his agile footwork gave him a chance. He eluded the defense and ran away to score, Hodgkins added the extras and there was relief all around at the memorial Ground 21-7.
St Peters responded well and before long the arrears were reduced. A high tackle allowed them to kick deep into the Wanderers' 22. A neat little move at the front of the lineout saw them crash over for their second converted Try making it 21-14.
As the game entered its final quarter the result was certainly in the balance. Hodgkins saw another penalty shot go wide and when he had another shot, as the home side scrum started to dominate, the game turned on its head. The shot went wide and the ball went loose but the chasing home side players failed to gather it.
Recovering the ball the visitors ran from deep. Finding space out wide they raced through the Wanderers' defense and with some neat interpassing they raced away to score the try of the day and leveled it up at 21-21.
The Wanderers faithful were thinking here we go again with the spectra of the loss at Ystrad and the draw against the Keys looming in the memory but today it was different. After a scrum on halfway the ball was moved into midfield and somehow Hodgkins broke clear and he needed no second invite as he raced 35 meters to score. He added the conversion and the referee signaled the end of the game with the Wanderers gaining the much-needed bonus point victory.
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