Blackwood lead the way

BLACKWOOD'S dynamic winning run was extended to an unexpected seven games at Glan-yr-Afon Park last night and took them clear at the top of the Welsh First Division table.

It sets up a pulsating clash on Saturday at Tondu, the division's previous leaders who were without a game yesterday.

But in truth, this was a poor advert for first division rugby, another miserable Gwent derby riddled with mistakes by sides afraid to take too many risks for fear of the consequences.

In some ways, a Blackwood win was amazing for they weren't in the game for the first thirty minutes and territorially conceded 70% of the play.

In that opening half-hour Keys outside-half Gethin Worgan missed three kickable penalties while a try chance was lost when full-back Rhys Potter could not hold on to a difficult low pass.

Although a long Worgan pass from a ruck put wing Shaun Marshall across for a try the fly-half again inexplicably failed to convert - and Blackwood made Keys pay.

In the final six minutes of the first period the home-side ran a kick back from outside their 22 and, after a chip ahead, right-wing Gavin Rees went over.

Then hooker Andrew Peacock raced 45m from a maul before being tackled close to the line, only for supporting No 8 Jamie Sims to score putting Blackwood 10-5 ahead at the interval.

Blackwood were fortunate in the build-up to the first try that referee David Davies failed to spot flanker Craig Clements in front of the kicker before helping to rob Keys on their line.

And Blackwood were fortunate later when he awarded Martin Jones a drop goal which had hit a post and went wide, putting Blackwood ahead at 19-5 and taking Jones past 100 points for the season.

Blackwood were better after the break, but still it was three Jones penalties which sealed their win, Keys' final try by their best player flanker Andrew Gibbs coming too late to make any difference.

For all their possession, Keys failed completely to show the inventiveness and enterprise displayed in their win over Merthyr on Saturday.

Blackwood were content to play a limited game with the ball rarely visiting the three-quarters. But they tackled superbly and stole countless ball off their opponents' errors.

Blackwood's passion and team-spirit cannot be underestimated and nobody will defeat them without a fight. But Keys players need to show a great deal more passion and quickly decide on their best line-up if they are to gain more success on the road.

* In the picture: Cross Keys' Matthew Veater captures lineout ball despite the efforts of Blackwood's Matthew Tucker