Following report kindly supplied by Eifion Harding, Caernarfon RFC.
The final score line in this First Round, Cup game is in no way a reflection on what was generally viewed, since Severn Sisters were game till the end and with such a high tackle count both sets of ladies will be feeling the effects for days to come. The telling factor was the pace available at the disposal of the Cofis, who having broken a tackle had pace in abundance and individuals constantly at hand to support.
The game was basically over as a contest, score wise, within the first fifteen minutes or so, since Caernarfon had already crossed the try line on five occasions. These tries were all run in from some distance after the defence had been breached close to the halfway line. Scrum half Lowri Wyn broke first before handing on to Elen Evans who sprinted clear and fed Beth Davies to open the scoring. Evans herself then sprinted in from sixty meters to record the second. Rachel Taylor was then at hand to receive a pass and motor clear to touch down before Beth Davies once again burst through to score her second. There was a slight lull in proceedings before Taylor once again fended off defenders to score her brace.
The character of the visitors was being tested at this point but in true Seven Sisters fashion they rallied and set about putting in place a tactic that would prevent Caernarfon seeing so much of the ball. Consequently the ball was kept amongst the forwards with numerous ball carriers like Andrea James and Amy Kelland-Howell prominent in gaining forward momentum. Rachel Rees at stand off and representing the club for the 100th time brought a smile to her team mates faces when she intervened intelligently to intercept a speculative pass to run in from thirty meters and put points on the board. Scrum half Carole-Ann Burt was also prominent during this period being forceful with ball in hand and strong in the tackle.
A Taylor overhead flick found Evans, who soared clear before feeding versatile centre Jess Kavanagh Williams who ran in to score another Caernarfon five pointer with a quickly taken penalty, again by Taylor, from way within their own twenty two leading to a length of the field try when the final pass found Beth Davies at hand to touch down. The first half then drew to a close when influential Number 8 Nicky Crawford powered downfield and appeared to be heading for a personal five pointer but for the heroics of waif like fullback Sophie Pinch who's adhesive like grip around the ankles brought her to ground. However Taylor was again at hand to collect the pop pass and continue to the try line.
Caernarfon's seven half tries were also complemented by seven conversions, courtesy of full back Beth Davies.
Seven Sisters at least had the slope in their favour during the second half and persisted with the same tactic that tired the home forwards, however they could not contend with the pace at Caernarfon's disposal.
Taylor again broke from seventy yards to score with Elen Evans following suit minutes later. Wing Rhian Pritchard then got in on the act, finding a gap along the tram line and sprinting to the try line. Elin Royle then assisted to put Beth Davies in the clear once again for try number twelve.
The visitors still kept plugging away and with evergreen Jami Davies a class act in midfield and fellow centre Jess Thomas gaining in confidence there was always a possibility that the green and black army would be rewarded. Bethan Howell egged her team mates on and Rachel Rees's persistence appeared to have resulted in a successful grounding but not to the referee's satisfaction, however from the ensuing scrum she worked her magic to allow Carole-Ann Burt to collect at pace and drive over to the appreciative acclaim of the travelling faithful.
With the final whistle beckoning Caernarfon still had enough gas in the tank to record another two tries, Rachel Taylor, once again as fresh as she was in the first minutes, sprinted clear for her fifth touchdown, soon followed by Jess Kavanagh Williams to notch her brace, thus providing the referee with an unexpected Sunday afternoon workout. Of the six second half tries Beth Davies added three out of four conversion attempts with Taylor and Williams respectively converting their own tries.
Both teams will now look ahead to see what the draw for the next round may throw their way, Caernarfon in the Supercup with Seven Sisters taking their place in the Plate competition.
Caernarfon Under 18's 59 v Seven Sisters Under 18's 10.
These budding stars of the future for their respective clubs, who find fixtures fairly difficult to come by at this age level, competed manfully to entertain the gathering audience and will have benefited greatly from the experience. Caernarfon once again had more pace at their disposal and were therefore able to gradually draw clear.
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