Risca 27 Tonyrefail 30

RISCA played hosts to Tonyrefail at the Stores Field and just lost 30-27.

Risca looked full of running from the start and created all the initial pressure which brought a penalty by Wayne Taylor on ten minutes, quickly followed by a try by Alan Lucas after good running by Jason Parfit and Wayne Taylor.

Back came Tonyrefail with their steamroller pack to score two tries in two minutes including a penalty try, as well as two penalties and a conversion.

Their heavyweight pack started to get a grip, but Risca bounced back with a dropped goal by Parfitt which had the game closely poised at 14-18 at half-time.

One minute after the interval Risca took the lead with a fine try by Daniel Dark after a great pick up by Reece Davis.

A dropped goal by Wayne Taylor pushed the score to 22-18, but Risca were starting to struggle up front against the jumbo pack.

The loss of Ewan Powell and Brendon Fisher just after half-time was starting to tell and four Risca lineouts were lost in quick succession.

With the scrum starting to back-pedal, immense pressure on the Risca line with seven scrums in 15 minutes, the Risca pack crumbled and Tonyrefail scored two quick tries and a conversion.

But the Risca threequarters, always willing to run the ball, moved it wide and Mathew Payne scored a try in the corner.

On Saturday Risca travel to Abergavenny for an important league game.

* In the picture: Risca's Darren Hooper gets the ball away.