BLACKWOOD Stars won this encounter against a strong physical side; we all knew that Beaufort would be a hard side to play against.

The first twenty minutes the Stars had the better of the encounter, but a strong Beaufort defence kept the score down to two penalties, which were converted by Kyle Tudge.

Constant Stars pressure resulted in a rolling maul crossing the Beaufort line, Lewis Garrad grounds the ball - a try to the Stars, which Kyle Tudge converted.

With fifteen minutes to go Beaufort turned on the pressure and after ten minutes of sustained attacking play, but excellent defence from the Stars results in them only giving away a penalty which Beaufort slot between the posts.

From the restart the Stars put the pressure on and just before the break they bagged their second try, scorer - Ross Martin.

The conversion was missed, so at half time the score stood at 18 - 3.

In the opening exchanges of the second half both sides held their own, but gaps were now opening which the Stars were taking advantage of, forward passes and knock ons however were frustrating for the players and for the supporters.

With twenty minutes of the second half gone some superb passing deep in the Stars half resulted in Rhys Hallett receiving the ball for him to beat three players to go over the line unopposed for the Stars' third try, which was again converted by Kyle Tudge.

Again, Beaufort came back into the game and after a move which used most of the back line took them quickly up the field only for the final pass to be deemed to be forward by the referee, this would have made for a really well-worked try.

The Stars however got stronger, the long summer training regime put in place by Mark Birkby & Mark Williams the new coaches was certainly showing in the player’s fitness.

The question was now could the Stars get a bonus point, this looked guaranteed when a well worked move in the middle left Simon Hughes with the line in his sites, not to be - a knock on.

Stars supporters however had reason to cheer when Ross Martin went over for his second try with five minutes to go. This went unconverted, final Score 30 - 3.

 

Based on information supplied by Matthew John.