Swansea WRFC 14 Pontyclun WRFC 21

 

WHITES’    GROUND    RECORD    IS    LOST    TO    PONTYCLYN WRFC.

Swansea WRFC 14 Pontyclun WRFC 21

Sunday 17th Feb. St Helen’s – Women’s Premier League.

Swansea women’s RFC suffered only their second defeat of the season on Sunday at home to Pontyclun Women. The loss marked the first time the Whites Women have ever lost at St Helen’s and only their third ever defeat in three campaigns. Another point of note is that all three of these defeats have been at the hands of Pontyclun WRFC who now have achieved the double over Swansea in 2018-19, a fact that will no doubt energise the squad and management to put the season back on track next Sunday away to old rivals Caernarfon.

In fairness, Swansea have been hit by the double curse of international absentees and injury in recent matches. But the high standards set will surely produce a typically robust response next weekend.  Statistics in favour of Swansea are that the defeat is just the third in 42 matches since their formation in 2016 and the loss of the home ground record has come in the 20th match at St Helen’s – a set of stats that will give Caernarfon food for thought next weekend at the Morfa Lane fixture.

An early try from the visitors was went unconverted but prompted a quick response from the Whites as full-back Sasha Bailey crossed the whitewash, stand-off Jodie Evans adding the extras. Evans doubled the Swansea tally shortly afterwards, scoring and converting herself for a 14 – 5 lead at half-time.

But it was the boot of outside-half Brogaan Jones and a solid Pontyclun scrum that was the difference. Jones brought the visitors within six points with a well taken penalty and a strong scrum resulted in a try by Danyelle Dinapole, Jones’ conversion putting the visitors ahead for the first time.

With Swansea unable to register points in the second–half, player of the match Brogaan Jones put the game safe for Pontyclun with two further penalties for a deserved 21 – 14 win. The Whites were again skippered by Robyn Lock, who showed typically incisive play until forced off with a head injury. Prolific scorer fee Bowen thought she had scored but the effort was disallowed, possibly for straying into touch. While the visitors’ win was achieved in the absence of some Swansea regulars, it will also serve to focus the Swansea team who until now have been the undisputed form team in the league.

Premier League and Super Cup fixtures for the second-half of the season have now been confirmed:

DATE OPPONENT H/A COMPETITION
24 February Caernarfon WRFC A (rescheduled) Women’s Premier League
3 March Pencoed WRFC H Super Cup Round 1
10 March Whitland WRFC H Women’s Premier League
24 March TBC TBC Super Cup/Plate Quarter-Finals
31 March Whitland WRFC A (rescheduled) Women’s Premier League
7 April Pencoed A Women’s Premier League
14 April TBC TBC Super Cup/Plate Semi-Finals
TBC TBC TBC Super Cup/Plate Finals Day