Cardiff RFC remain in pole position in Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) despite their first defeat of the season, an uncharacteristic 26-3 loss to Swansea RFC.
The Blue and Blacks headed to Swansea with confidence after securing a hat-trick of six-point bonus-point victories against Pontypool RFC, Ebbw Vale RFC, and Carmarthen Quins.
It had been 26 days since the two sides last met, when Cardiff claimed an entertaining 49-35 victory over the Whites in the Welsh capital.
For head coach Dan Fish, the short five-day turnaround after last weekend’s 35-12 win over the Quins prompted several changes to his side.
Hooker Ethan Coombes, who made his SRC debut last Saturday, made his first competitive start for the club, joined by Ioan Emanuel and returning Tom Harper in the front-row.
After starting the previous two matches at blind-side, captain Craig Hudd returned to the second-row to accompany Sean Moore.
Nathan Hudd made his first start since facing the Whites at the Cardiff Arms Park and joined Alfie Prygodzicz and Ben Fry to complete a strong forward pack.
Ethan Lloyd, who is nearing a century of appearances for the club, returned to the starting lineup and joined Ben Coomer, who switched from full-back back to outside-half. Tom Williams and Joe Goodchild formed the midfield partnership.
After scoring his first try of the season against the Quins, winger Iwan Pyrs-Jones earned his second start. Harry Turner also returned to the starting XV for the first time since facing St Albans RFC in pre-season, while Rhys Cummings completed the back-line at full-back.
Summer signing Charlie Rainbird was named among the replacements, making his first appearance since the Blue and Blacks’ season opener against the Quins. He was joined on the bench by Evan Nicholls-Ngasseu, Harry Fry, Louis Fletcher, Kian Lloyd, Jason Harries, Sonny Greenman, and Calen Edwards.
Speaking after the encounter against the Whites, head coach Fish said: “One bad result does not make us a bad team.
“We were off it tonight, physically, and we didn’t take our chances in that first-half. Fair play to Swansea; they took their chances.
“12-0 up in these conditions, it’s tough to claw back. I spoke to the boys at half-time; there’s no point looking around the room, looking at the floor, we’ve got to look at ourselves.
“We’ll take learnings from it. Obviously it’s good learning for the young boys, a lot of young boys out there again tonight- that’s not an excuse. We have to be better in these conditions.
“I thought if we would have taken our chances in the first-half, and maybe got it back to 12-10, then it might have been a different game.
“Credit to Swansea; they were excellent tonight, executed their game plan really well.”
Story of the Game:
After a short five-day turnaround and on a fresh 4G pitch, perhaps not quite settled after being laid only a month ago, outside-half Coomer got proceedings underway at the newly revamped St Helen’s.
Despite being winless in the SRC so far this season and sitting bottom of the table, the hosts started on the front foot immediately. After a kick upfield by inside-centre Joe Thomas, the Whites secured a lineout inside the Blue and Blacks’ 22.
Following a few phases on the visitors’ line, open-side Ethan Fackrell powered over for the evening’s first try. Full-back Josh Phillips couldn’t add the extras as Swansea took an early five-point lead.
Cardiff then found themselves with possession minutes later, and this came after back-to-back line-outs. However, frustratingly for the visitors, Swansea regathered inside their own 22.
Full-back Cummings then smartly kicked in behind, with winger Turner chasing, but the ball went out of play on the greasy surface. The hosts then knocked the ball on while attacking, and this came before Coomer kicked up into the 22.
In the miserable conditions, the visitors tried to use the catch-and-drive effectively but couldn’t capitalise. Referee Ben Whitehouse then penalised the hosts, and moments later did so again with the Blue and Blacks metres from Swansea’s whitewash.
However, the visitors were then penalised, and Swansea soon scored their second of the contest. After some brilliant build-up play, scrum-half Matthew Aubrey scored the visitors’ second.
This time, Phillips slotted the extras at the end of the first quarter, and the Whites led by 12 points. Coomer then powered through the hosts’ defence minutes later to get Cardiff into their 22.
Once again, the Blue and Blacks couldn’t find a way through and were penalised shortly afterwards. Captain Hudd showed great strength close to his side’s whitewash after a powerful tackle on Daf Davies, and Cardiff regathered possession.
Scrum-half Lloyd kicked to relieve pressure. Winger Pyrs-Jones then gathered a tricky high ball, and on the 30-minute mark, the visitors scored their first points of the evening.
Outside-half Coomer took the penalty kick, reducing the deficit to nine points. Swansea almost responded accordingly with their third score of the evening.
After Cardiff failed to gather the restart, winger Brandon Wood couldn’t score in the corner. The Blue and Blacks then ended the first-half with a good passage of play, but, as was the theme of the contest, they couldn’t add to their tally.
HT: Swansea RFC 12-3 Cardiff RFC
Luke Scully got the second-half underway, and Cardiff, minutes later, had a catch-and-drive inside the hosts’ 22.
Second-row Moore gathered, but Swansea regained possession and kept the Blue and Blacks under pressure.
Full-back Phillips slotted a penalty kick five minutes into the third quarter, and minutes later kicked another after Cardiff were penalised just outside their own 22, with Swansea leading by 18 points.
In the 52nd minute, the hosts were penalised, but Cardiff couldn’t build from the resulting lineout, with the ball not being straight.
Outside-half Scully used the wind behind the Whites with great success, kicking a fantastic 50-22 when the Blue and Blacks were on the front foot.
However, Swansea couldn’t capitalise as the final quarter advanced. But within the closing exchanges on a frustrating night for Fish’s side, Swansea scored their third. Winger Harvey James raced over in the corner.
Despite replacement Luke Price failing to add the extras, the Whites deservedly claimed their first win of the season at a “sold-out” St Helen’s.
FT: Swansea RFC 26-3 Cardiff RFC
The Blue and Blacks next welcome Bridgend Ravens to the Cardiff Arms Park next Saturday (KO: 14:30), where Fish’s side will aim to return to winning ways.
