The Illts scored a 5th straight win in a cracking game against a good Pentyrch team to maintain their position at the top of the league, picking up a 4th bonus point in the process by scoring 5 tries. They did it the hard way, coming from behind twice and sealing victory with a minute left, and even then they offered the home side a final chance to snatch a win of draw, but they ultimately came through with maximum points.
It hadn't started well for the visitors, with Pentyrch the sharper side in the opening stages, putting the Illts under pressure with some accurate kicking and quick tap penalties in particular. A good kick by the home 10 forced play to the 5 metre line. The Illts lineout, usually so solid, lost one against the throw and the home side drove the maul before the Illts had time to regroup to take a 5-0 lead. This was shortlived with the Illts hitting back, a lovely delayed pass from Lewis Andrews sending skipper Morse through a gap, he timed his pass perfectly to release full back Dan Savager who supplied a classy finish to level the scores.
As the half wore on the Illts were starting to assert dominance in the scrum but were still playing too much rugby in their own half, and they were caught napping with a quick tap penalty just before half time, with the home scrum half releasing the no 8. He was tackled by the scramble defence but when the ball was shipped left the Illts ran out of defenders and good passing allowed the home side to score out wide for a converted try. The home side led 12-5 at the break but there was no panic from the Illts having played against the elements in the first half.
The half time team talk clearly worked for the visitors, straight from the kick off second row Dan Molcher dealt with a low bouncing ball well and a perfect box kick from Andrews was regathered by Jason Smith who drove on, the ball was moved to the right wing where Ian Morris released Tom Wheeler on the touchline. After he was tackled the Illts forwards drove play back in field for a couple of phases, creating room for Morris on the blindside and he dummied over.
Staright from the next kick off the Illts repeated the dose, Molcher again gathering and this time Smith caught another perfect Andrews box kick on the full.The ball was shipped left to Matt Banner who did well to recycle the ball and from the ruck a lovely miss pass from fly half Sean Cochlin released Molcher who fed Smith who dummied the last defender and powered over. The tries were both wide out and Cochlin couldn't add the extras, denied by the post second time round so the Illts led 15-12.
By this stage the Illts pack was well on top in the scrums, although they didn't seem to get much reward for their dominance and it was Pentrych who retook the lead, another quick penalty saw them break through in midfield. Again quick ruck ball sa an overlap on the right, although there was a lot to do 3 excellent passes created the space for the home flanker to dummy and crash over out wide, a superb touchine conversion took the score to 19-15.
Back came the Illts, a driven lineout forced the home side to concede a penalty which Cochlin kicked to the corner for a repeat dose. Pentyrch infringed again just metres from their line so the Illts opted for the scrum, and drove over with try machine Tom Wheeler grabbing his 8th of the season. Cochlins conversion made it 22-19 but the home side weren't done.
Another incisve attack had the Illts back pedalling and although the move broke down the Ilts were offside in midfield and the home 10 made no mistake to level the scores. Just as they had at Llandaff in the last away game the Illts showed some real charachter to dig deep and dleiver the win. Sub centre Neil Dallimore made the initial break and the forwards took the ball on for a couple of phases. There was huge space on the left but skipper Phil Morse long pass was behind Wheeler and checked the no 8, but it made no difference as he beat his man, bursting through before beating the covering winger ad full back to score - 27-22 with less than a minute to go.
The Illts only had to deal with the kick off and kick the ball dead and although part one was succesful, scrum half Andrews tried to snipe for some reason. The Illts kept the ball but then Cochlins kick didnt make touch giving the home side one last chance, with the Illts defending desparately the home centre tried to chip accross for his winger but the ball went into touch allowing the Illts to celebrate.
A great win against a good side with several bodies missing bodes well for the rest of the season. Great perfomances all round but from the front row and Jason Smith in paticular, and good to see Dalli and Jim back in Illts colours off the bench. A one week break now for the word cup final before the Illts are back in action at Moorland Park v Cilfynydd.
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