Cobra defeated Bethesda to secure their first league win since October 12th. Having suffered from a spate of cruel injuries and unavailability due to other commitments Cobra were finally able to field a full match day squad with backs actually playing in shirts 9 – 15 opposed to forwards.
The game started poorly for Cobra who found themselves 3 – 15 down within 15 minutes, Betheasda scoring tries through Iwan Williams and Dylan Hughes with a conversion and a penalty kicked by Gareth V Edwards. The one bonus of having travelled away all season with limited numbers is that Cobra players have discovered much about themselves. Never have heads dropped and efforts waned and defeats have mean taken on the chin as a learning experience in a difficult new league. This inner strength to face adversity and not be broken ensured that even after a far from perfect start on Saturday Cobra continued to give 100% to all facets of the game and were rewarded as possession and territory was slowly wrestled away from the visitors and the Cobra forwards began to enjoy the upper hand in the set piece and contact area.
Possession and territory allowed Cobra to play some decent rugby even in difficult conditions, with both sides defence been laudable, the kicking game became vital and Cobra through the boots of Lloyd Mayor, Llew Williams and Alwyn Williams were able to win the kicking duel and ensure the Cobra forwards on a wet pitch spent their efforts in the right areas of the pitch.
Cobra’s points were all kicked by the returning LLew Williams who dependable boot, 100% success rate has been sorely missed as a means of keeping the scoreboard ticking over this season. With Llew in great form with the boot Cobra defended with great resolve, determined to smash Bethesda’s ball carriers knowing any penalty conceded by the hosts would allow Llew a shot at goal.
The second half rarely saw the home sides line under threat and Cobra players all contributed greatly to the victory which has been a long time coming.
S ISSAC C OAKLEY A EVANS R EVANS B EDWARDS L BRIGHT T TWIGG J JUKES
L MAYOR L WILLIAMS I VAUGHAN A HUMPHREYS F ROBERTS R JONES A WILLIAMS
A ROBERTS H JUKES W WILLIAMS R DAVIES