Dunvant 2nds restricted by Morriston and narrow Pitch

Dunvant’s second friendly this season against Morriston was played below Morriston’s club pitch on a very narrow parks pitch. This was again another good competitive game, however the restrictive pitch favoured the home side, who came out winners reversing the October fixture at Broadacre.

Dunvant played all the rugby in the first 20 mins showing good skills offloading and keeping the ball in hand and in play for long periods, trying desperately to stretch the home defence with fast recycling of the ball. Although there were a few opportunities squandered the Morriston’s defence held strong. The only event in the first 20 mins was stalwart Mike Smith leaving the field with a rib injury and being replaced by the ‘ever green’ Dai Hughes.

Morriston started to slow the game down and got some good territory advantage playing down the slope. They used their strong runners to good effect battering the Dunvant defence. Although the first try came out wide from a loose clearing kick from behind the Dunvant’s try line. The pressure soon came back on Dunvant and Morriston scored another 2 try’s before the half time break through their powerful forwards. Making the half time score a slightly flattering 17-0 to the home side.

Dunvant kept playing some good rugby with industrious work through the forwards and their perseverance saw space open up for Captain Michael Arnold to get Dunvant on the score sheet. With the conversion quickly dropped under the posts Dunvant started the fight back 17-7. Dunvant continue to look threatening and kept searching for space, eventually Winger Peter Deutsch found a small opening but still had to cut inside to and beat the last ditched tackle to score Dunvant’s second, which was again converted by Dannie White.

Morriston once more got some territory and were again hard to stop close to the line and added to their tally. However as the game went on Dunvant’s fitness showed and we were looking more likely to score. Peter Deutsch got the ball again with a little space but this time had more to do, however his strong running powered through the Morriston defence to score, Dunvant were again rewarded by the dependable Dannie White and Dunvant moved to within a score of Morriston. However they were beaten by the clock and the score finished 26-21.

This was a good fixture and a competitive friendly which was needed after the Christmas break and will set up the 2nds well for entry back into the league next week.