For their first league game of the new season the Druids were facing Garndiffaith on a sunny Chippenham Mead. Their opponents beat them in the semi final of last years Ivor Jones Cup and they also pipped the Druids for the league title. So plenty to play for then. The Druids showed some early cohesion, which caused the visitors to defend furiously. On two occasions the Druids, crossed the Garndiffaith line only for the referee to rule out any score. Eventually the Druids did score a try when from a half break from outside half Greg Wilding, charging number eight Mat Hurst went over near the posts. Wilding converted to give the home side a 7 nil lead. The only other Druids score in the first half was a penalty goal by Greg Wilding when Garndiffaith handled at a ruck. Just before half time the visitors scored against the run of play to keep them in the game. Some poor decision making by the Druids, and despite two cracking tackles from scrum half Andy Tansill, Garndiffaith scored an unconverted try in the right hand corner. The half time score must have disappointed the Druids as 10-5 did not reflect their endeavours or their dominance. As the second half started it was obvious that the Druids were determined to put matters right. They won good line out ball through Andy Howells and Andy Scourfield and gained four strikes against the head at the scrum through stirling work by props Dave Brand and Mark Ralph. This supremacy by the Druids led to three further tries by Tom Homer(2) and Will Davies, two being converted by Greg Wilding in addition to a penalty goal. So a 32-5 victory for the Druids and it could have been more, but knock ons and faulty passing cost them points. An emphatic victory with good performances from live-wire Tom Homer, grafting Joel Price and old campaigner Andy Tansill. A word for the two props Dave Brand and Mark Ralph. They stuck to their task and both will be stiff this week. A good start to the campaign and to the league season with some young faces being prominent with the old legends holding it together.
|