34 SPORT
NOVEMBER.24.2008 SPORT@gairrhydd.COM
UWIC Ladies' 3rds...................24 A TENSE victory against their local rivals saw Cardiff 3rds secure their place in the Western Conference Cup. Having lost against UWIC in the league last week, Cardiff were playing
goal-defence Nicola Lumb kept UWIC out of the circle and with centre-court picking up the pace Cardiff proceeded to take the lead by one goal at the end of the second quarter, leading 11-10. UWIC displayed a high level of fitness coming into the third quarter with well-timed centre passes and fast movement amongst the attack. This led to four goals in quick succession and whilst Cardiff fought back it was not enough to maintain the lead, entering the last quarter down by five. This lead was increased to six
HOCKEY: Swans take flight
BUCS Cup Swansong Tom Barnett Sports Reporter CARDIFF Men's 4ths.................0 SWANSEA Men's 1sts...............6 CARDIFF FOURTHS were made to endure a miserable defeat at the hands of Swansea Firsts in the BUCS Cup on a bitterly cold night at Talybont. It was always going to be a tough game for Cardiff against a strong, classy Swansea side, and this was clear from just the opening few minutes. Although Cardiff made a bright start they were quickly pinned back by Swansea, and it took a number of defensive heroics just to keep the score at 0-0 in the opening stages of the game. Indeed, Cardiff showed some signs
of positive play and were unlucky when Nick Crouch fired wide from an incisive breakaway play. However, just when Cardiff looked like they might have something to offer in this match, Swansea took the lead – and not too many could argue. Swansea then proceeded to strike the ball with a sense of confidence, and even had something of a swagger about them. Within minutes of the first they’d doubled their lead. Despite the difference in class, however, Cardiff’s spirits didn’t drop, and they were unlucky to go to the half time break scoreless. It seemed like the second half was hardly underway when Swansea added a third goal to their tally, a smart move that thwarted any hope of a realistic Cardiff comeback. Despite the final score, Cardiff actually improved greatly in the second half, and a succession of penalty corners could have
led to a goal. However, each was too slowly executed. Cardiff enjoyed a good spell in the second half following this, pinning Swansea back and looking like they could at the very least get a consolation goal. However, Swansea broke away yet again with an intelligent, swift move to make it 4-0, and this seemed to spur them into further action. They had shortly added a fifth and then a sixth while Cardiff had been limited to breakaway attacks – a good run from Alex Holden resulting in a near miss from Geoff Joseph. In truth, though, only the heroics of Heracleous in goal kept Swansea from adding to the six, and despite the heavy score line there were signs of encouragement from a Cardiff side struggling against superior opponents. In the end, however, the difference in class told.
goals, but by keeping their heads and with accurate passing between centre Lara Heywood and wing-attack Carys Howell, the score line was brought back in an electrifying turnover. With both teams in desperation for possession of the ball and ultimately victory, the final goals were intense. But ultimately, Cardiff’s composure meant they left the court having knocked UWIC 3rds out of the Cup with a close but rewarding 25-24 win. NETBALL: close quarters
Imperial leathered Tomos Morgan Rugby Reporter CARDIFF Men's 1sts...............43 IMPERIAL Men's 1sts................8 WITH CONFIDENCE high after a four match-winning streak, and a home game against bottom of the league side Imperial College London, the first team went into the game with confidence. Last week Cardiff beat Imperial’s medics, but now it was Imperial’s first team that were to test Cardiff’s winning streak. Cardiff welcomed the return of fullback/fly-half Codey Rees back after injury and work commitments, and within five minutes had kicked his first three points of campaign for the home side. The penalty was followed by the first of openside flanker Ed Hampson’s tries in close quarters with the help of the pack picking and driving over the line. A poor restart and poor clearance kick by Imperial led to an opening for right wing Brett Chaplain, who ghosted past two tackles before rounding the fullback's weak tackle for a well taken personal try, Rees kicking both conversions. Lock Alex Lester scored the next try after a lovely piece of interplay between the Cardiff pack and backs showing their passing skills and leaving Imperial to chase the air. The next points came to the away team through a penalty by the team’s hooker. The first half came to a close as 24-3 Cardiff continued to be the dominating team. They whipped out solid tackles and strong work by the pack in the scrum and line-out, with all the backs searching to run the ball. Fly-half Cameron Pimlo was a constant threat with ball in hand making
half chances throughout the half. The second half brought more of the same from the driving Cardiff side, and an outstanding finish by prop Andrew Cassidy burst clear from the half way line to score after another turnover from the tireless work of back row Nick Huntley, Stuart Henry and Ed Hampson. Cardiff began to defend after this last try with a few heroic tryline tackles by Lester’s replacement Tom Penry Ellis and rest of the back row. Imperial finally got their try with a quirky move from the back of the scrum five meters out, reversing play to put their outside centre over, with their hooker unable to convert the score continued to be against the away team at 29-8. After Imperial’s try, Cardiff got a second wind. Their tackling became more aggressive in the break down area, none more evident that the combined work of the back row. Credit must go to prop Aled Mason, who continued to work hard in the tackle. Hampson then grabbed his brace after a bulldozing run by number eight Huntley, closely followed by another effortless-looking finish by Hampson’s number double on the wing Chaplain, with Rees converting both and finishing with a tally of thirteen today. Captain Aaron Fowler added after the game: “Another winning performance again, with the boys showing good spirit to grind out the win, when at times it was a bit scrappy. Hopefully we can continue to maintain this consistency and be at the top of the league and look for promotion at the end of the year”. If confidence remains high and the defence stays strong, Cardiff can be hopeful in the bid for promotion.
PHOTO: CHRISTINA MACKIE
CARDIFF Ladies' 3rds..............25
to win and their determination proved that they deserved it. With strong support from the sidelines and an even stronger sense of team spirit on the court Cardiff came through fighting hard for their tense and satisfying victory. A tight defence on both sides kept the score line low and made for an excitable first quarter, which came to a close with a draw, each side having scored five goals. Strong defence from Cardiff’s wing-defence Katie Ebeneezer and
PHOTO: NATALIA POPOVA
Laura Davies Netball Reporter
PHOTO: JAMES PEROU
Cardiff net narrow local victory
RUGBY: Imperial demolished