On a bright chilly afternoon on a heavy pitch the visitors Penallta were straight out of the blocks, but in the end, it was Jamin Hodgkins and his Glamorgan Wanders teammates who prevailed 19 - 17.
Kicking off and then retrieving the ball Penallta went straight on the attack. A penalty gave them good field position and after the Wanderers had repelled the first wave of attacks the Pitmen manufactured an opening and crashed over under the posts for the 7 – 0 lead.
From the kick off the home side compounded their start by conceding a soft penalty and the visitors were straight back on the attack. Taking play deep into the Wanderers 22 they pressured again and after several phases, they moved the ball wide for an easy canter in for their second try making it 12 – 0 and leaving the home side up against it.
From the resulting 22 the Wanderers were handed their first attack after the return kick went out on the full. Gaining a penalty, they declined the shot at goal and at last gained a foothold in the Penallta 22. A second penalty, again declining the shot at goal, presented them with a 5-metre lineout and despite the defense they gained some momentum on the drive, and captain Josh Male popped up at the back of the maul to power over to open the home side account. The conversion went just wide but the Wanderers were up and running 12 - 5. Back came the visitors and once again the defense was called into action to keep them from increasing the lead.
The home side then hit back, against the run of play, with a superb try. From a defensive kick, Morgan Williams set up the play. The ball was moved wide with George Cottrell, Aron Arthur and Ned Bennett all involved. When the play was halted in the visitor's 22 Hodgkins hit the play at pace and he crashed over to score the Wanderers second Try. He converted himself to level it up at 12-12.
The second half began brightly for both sides the Wanderers had and early chance, but Penallta hit back and with their superior lineout, they furnished another opportunity. Off the top ball set up a midfield attack and then they crashed through on a cutback. Good support and handling then sent them clear to re-establish their lead. The conversion went wide but they were ahead 17 - 12.
The home side sent for fresh legs to alter the course of the game there followed a period of pressure in the visitor’s half. Gruff Tough started to prove a threat from 9 and when Penallta infringed once gain the Wanderers kicked deep to set up the play. Driving at the line in close quarters the home side forced the Pitmen’s defense to dig deep and they seemed to hold out but the “Old Timer” Rob Weston threw out a paw and just managed to get the ball on the line. Hodgkins converted and the home side edged ahead 19-17.
A period of aerial tennis followed as both sides searched for the telling score but with heavy conditions taking their toll the game slightly stagnated. The Pitmen were then reduced to 14 for the remainder of the game when the referee spotted a stamp on a Wanderers player making their task even more difficult. As often happens the sending-off galvanized their players and they went back on the assault. The tension rose in the game with time running out and the Wanderers faithful were forced to start chewing their fingernails as they hung on.
On several occasions, it seemed that Penallta would steal it at the death but the resolve of the home side, with Tough to the fore at the death making two try-saving tackles, was the strongest and the Wanderers hung on to claim the points in a most absorbing game.
Hodgkins was named Management Man Of the Match.
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