AN UNDER-STRENGTH and disorganized Cardiff Medics team failed to get their survival campaign off to a successful start as they went down 16-3 to a big and bruising St. Mary’s XV.
It looked to be doom and gloom for the Medics in their first season of top – flight rugby, when they leaked two soft tries in the opening twenty minutes of the first half. An unfamiliar centre pairing led to momentary yet costly miscommunication allowing the St Mary’s backs to slip through for early scores.
The Medics were guilty of paying too much respect to their larger counterparts in the first quarter of a hard fought, yet clumsy, game from both teams. Rather than stepping into the tackle the Medics were initially content to allow St.Mary’s free reign in broken play.
However a rallying call from captain Hywel James saw the Medics regroup and gradually marched St Mary’s up the pitch with a succession of breakdown errors from the burly pack of St Mary’s forwards. Yet another penalty from an over eager St Mary’s player at the breakdown gifted the Medics their first scoring opportunity, a penalty in front of the posts which Dafydd Evans slotted over with ease.
A confident and well-drilled St Mary’s team soon snuffed out the Medics’ chance of an early comeback. St Mary’s fly-half Dave Whitehead, a former Saracens academy player, directed play well, stretching and exhausting the Medic defence until eventually the Medics yielded six points and lost a player to the sin bin for cynical play.
With one man down and trailing by thirteen points, the second half could easily have turned into a rout. However, the Medics have always enjoyed their reputation as the underdogs and the challenge seemed to bolster the Medics’ resolve.
The forwards in particular put in a superb performance, spearheaded by the industrious Nick Carter and the stalwart Nick Willets. The pack won turn over ball at both set pieces and at the breakdown to provide their fleet footed backs with good ball from which to create scoring opportunities.
Unfortunately, the last crucial pass proved to be elusive throughout the afternoon and a determined St Mary’s plugged any defensive holes to prevent the Medics from scoring their maiden try in Premiership A. And yet the Medics corrected their early defensive naivety and the second half finished scoreless.
Although the Medics lost their opening game, they refuse to be overawed by the prospect of playing at such a high level. With greater cohesion and decision-making the Medics will soon overcome the frustration of their first outing.
Next week the Medics travel across the Severn Bridge to Bristol. With the almost untouchable Hartpury and UWIC dominating Premiership A, the Medics need to target next week as a must-win game if they are to survive this season.
Cardiff Medics are under no illusions that their backs are against the wall this season; fortunately for them they would not have it any other way.
