Local rugby round-up

The Old Boys’ style and flare was evident as they got back on the winning road.

Some defence coaching from Dragons Ashley Smith and Lewis Evans really paid dividends.

These former NHSOB players brought back to the club the benefits of their regional rugby experience.

The Old Boys started the game in determined fashion and the improved defence kept the visitors at bay.

A great move and drive by the forwards provided Will Edwards with good ball to feed Gareth Hillier who dived over the line for the opening try.

Continuing pressure and solid defence by the home side’s Fox, Smith, Cooke and Blunt (capt) resulted in a penalty to make it 10-0.

A further period of Old Boys’ pressure enabled Will Edwards to slot over a penalty to make the half time score 13-0 to NHSOB.

The second half became a much more even contest. Will Edwards struck another penalty to make it 16-0.

The Nelson team responded late with a try to make the score 16-7, but while pushing for further scores a mistake and good defence left an opening for NHSOB wing John Davies.

He had a clear run to the line with just two defenders to out pace and he made it.

Will Edwards converted to leave the score 23-7. In injury time Nelson crossed again to finish the match 23-14 to the Old Boys.

A very good afternoon’s work that coaches Nick Parkes and Andy peacock were very pleased with St Joseph’s travelled to Girlings for a Newport and District cup match. Girlings have been something of a bogey side for over the last few years with the home side often failing to field a front row, leaving St Joe’s without one of their strengths.

Saturday was no exception with Girlings only having two recognised front row players. The outcome, however, was very different, with St Joe’s winning 24-15.

Tries from Jamie Westacott, Nick Davenport, Daniel Onions and Matthew Reilly meant the visitors progressed to the next round of the cup.

New Panteg lost to Whiteheads by the narrowest of margins, 17-16, and will rue a spate of bad passes and missed kicks.

Panteg started the strongest taking the lead with a Chris Baker penalty and continued to apply pressure to the hosts’ line. But too often the last pass just not good enough.

One such pass led to Whiteheads’ first try. With the home line under siege a loose pass was intercepted by a home centre who ran the length of the feild to score under the posts. The conversion was added giving the home side a half time lead against the run of play.

Whiteheads started quickly in the second half increasing their lead with another converted try, then added a penalty.

This stung Panteg into action, the forwards began to control the ball with Rees Jones, Dan Warren and Deri Bevan leading the way.

The three-quarters made good use of better ball and started to look dangerous, running at Whiteheads with speed and guile, resulting in a Baker penalty plus tries from Maddox and Baker.

The game hinged on the last kick, a conversion from the touch line to win the game. But it was not to be, the kick going narrowly wide to the delight of the home side and their supporters.

Croesyceiliog retained the Jack Walker Cup with a four try to one 7-27 away victory against Cwmbran.

Both sides played with a lot of commitment, as local derby sides do. However, whereas the visitors played with vision and awareness of space, the Crows showed too much tunnel vision.

Two first half tries, one of which was converted by Matthew Entwhistle, were added to by another Entwhistle penalty before the break to give Cwmbran a 15 point deficit to try to claw back.

Despite the scrum going particularly well, with Hopkins, Peart, Groves, Reynolds and Birch on top in this phase of play, other areas struggled.

In the second half, Cwmbran went further behind as Croesyceiliog executed a pin point cross kick to score a corner try after being on the back foot for a period of time.

Good carries by Griffiths, Williams and Lang paved the way to the visiting 22 and from a lineout Cwmbran inside half Shaun Watkins crashed over for a corner try.

Full back Dave Thomas put over a magnificent conversion off the touchline to close the gap.

With time running out Croesyceiliog got their bonus point try to consolidate themselves in the safe half of the table.

A big lift is now needed by Cwmbran as their next game a week Saturday is Abergavenny at the Kings Head.

Cwmbran Athletic secured their seventh win of the season away at Hartridge.

With a number of players who have played first team rugby this season in their ranks, the Crows battled throughout for a fine 22-19 victory.

Scorers for Cwmbran were Owen Tudball, two tries, Gareth Roberts and Ian Bradfield, a try apiece. Stand off Gareth Gardner kicked a conversion in an excellent all round team performance.

Trinant entertained Markham in round two of the Bowl and the visitors looked to attack from the start.

After five minutes they went ahead after their centre attacked the line and from a tackle popped the ball up to their full back to go over and score a converted try. In this score, Trinant lost centre Craig Foxwell, injured in the tackle, who had to be transferred to Morriston Hospital with a nasty ear injury which needed surgery, we all wish him a speedy recovery. Trinant, shortly afterwards, should have levelled the score but the wing knocked on with the line beckoning. Markham were still competing well and increased their lead with a very good try to stretch it to 14-0. From the kick off Trinant got into the visitors’ 22 and forced a scrum. The Troggs took a strike against the head which enabled scrum half Jason Leadbeater to go over unopposed for a try, converted by David Morgan. Trinant were now starting to get on top and levelled the score with a good converted try by full back Morgan. They should have increased their lead after a 40 metre break by centre Jason Lovell only for the final pass to go forward.

From the start of the second half, Lovell got held up over the line. From the resulting scrum the Troggs went over in the corner, a good try by wing Chris Meyrick to lead by 19-14. Trinant continued to pressure the Markham line and from a scrum flanker Paul Lloyd tackled the Markham scrum-half who spilled the ball. No8 Robert Alexander was on hand to gather the loose ball and drive over for a try, converted by Morgan. Trinant should have increased their lead when a penalty from Morgan in front of the posts sailed wide.

Lloyd was also denied when he was forced into touch in the corner. Markham’s first venture into the Trinant half after some 20 minutes resulted in a good try to reduce the arrears to 26-21. With ten minutes to go, Trinant got a foot hold in the markam half and were awarded a penalty, which saw Morgan’s kick bounce off the two uprights and go over for the Troggs to lead 29-21 with five minutes to go. Markham were not to be outdone and deep into injury time scored a try in the corner which was well converted to give the Troggs an anxious few moments before the final whistle.

Markham played well above their status and gave the home team a real good battle in an exciting game.

Good games for the Troggs were posted by Leadbeater, Lovell, Darren Smith and Justin Edmunds. Prop Andrew Webber also impressed but man of the match was No8 Robert Alexander for his strong runs from the base of the scrum and his try.

Oakdale welcomed their near neighbours Crumlin for their second round SWALEC Bowl cup tie and put in a clinical and professional display to overcome their opponents from a division higher by 18-11.

Expectations were high in the home side due to recent league performances but it was Crumlin who took an early lead with a penalty.

Oakdale responded on eight minutes after the away side were penalised for going over the top at a ruck, Simon Barber converting the penalty to even the scores at 3-3.

Oakdale started to press ahead territorially and on 16 minutes centre Richard Jones made a fine break up the middle of the field, offloading well in the tackle.

The ball was recycled twice more and then Oakdale attacked down the blind side with Jones again involved providing the final pass to winger David Smith to score in the corner, putting Oakdale into the lead 8-3.

It was definitely the home side who were enjoying the better of the first half and they again proved that once teams try to play against them they respond positively.

Their second try came on 25 minutes with Jones again involved heavily with an excellent break through the Crumlin defence, breaking numerous tackles. Oakdale again attacked down the blind side, letting the ball do the work through a series of players allowing winger Smith a short run unopposed from 10 metres out to take Oakdale further into the lead, 13-3.

Crumlin responded with a penalty before half time to cut the deficit to 13-9.

The visitors certainly had a stern half time team talk as they came out for the second period in a positive mood. They were rewarded for their efforts after 55 minutes with a try from close range but missed the conversion in front of the posts to make the score 13 -11.

The tension remained high with both teams looking capable of scoring but defences on both sides held firm and both sides missed penalty chances.

Crumlin were becoming more dominant in the scrums but it was the Oakdale line out jumpers Jarman and Williams who were dominating the lineouts.

Oakdale tried to play the rugby in Crumlin’s half and full back James Morgan was constantly a threat with intelligent running and excellent kicking into the corners.

Oakdale maintained their intensity and a well-worked backs move sent Richard Jones through the defence for a 30 metre charge which was stopped just short of the line.

He offloaded to Adam Johnston who recycled the ball excellently for the backs to use and it was winger David Smith who was at the end of the line to dive over for his hat-trick to cap a memorable performance for both the team and the individual.

Risca hosted Blaina United in the second round of the Swalec Bowl competition, easing their way through with a convincing 100-0 victory.

The last time Risca enjoyed such a huge victory was against Penycraig (167-0) in a league game on April 3rd, 2004.

Risca made seven changes from last week’s team, and Leighton Jones (full back), Greg Watkins (prop), and Daniel Brewster (lock) made first team debuts, all three players coming through Risca’s youth/Athletic chain.

From the start Risca showed that they intended to move the ball at every opportunity and within two minutes had their first try on the board. It was the first of sixteen with ten conversions added.

Try scorers were: Leighton Jones 3, Luke Savigar Jones 4, Steve Barnes 2, Ty Morris 2, one each from Daniel Brewster, Craig Thomas, Rhys Carpenter, Richard Evans, and Andrew Fraser with six conversions by Rhys Carperter and four conversions by Craig Thomas.

Young Leigton Jones made quite a good impression at full back, although he was not tested in defence. His running and handling were of a high standard. Greg Watkins and Daniel Brwester gave very solid perfomances up front with Brewster running well to get his try.

Rhys Carpenter is marching towards the 100 points with 65 league points and 32 in the two cup games, taking him to 97 in total.

Abercarn swept into the next round of the SWALEC Bowl with a 12 try 74-3 demolition of Cwm.

The coaches took the opportunity of resting several first team players to give an opportunity to players from the development team.

There were good performances from Ben Farley, Ben James and Rhys Morris.

The visitors from Division 6 East struggled to cope in most aspects of the game and Abercarn were in dominant form, running the ball from around all parts of the park.

First on the scoreboard was centre Gavin Stokes, playing in only his second game of the season.

Minutes later good interpassing led to a try for scrum half Karl Kinsey.

Centre Jack Davies was next to cross the Cwm line for the first of his three tries in the game.

Ever present winger Chris Symonds benefitted from fine interpassing to add to his try tally and Jack Davies ended the first half with his second try.

As the second half progressed the visitors began to wilt under the constant pressure they were under.

Abercarn were able to breach the visitors’ defences time and time again with tries from Scott Llewellyn, Ben James, Guy Glastonbury and Shane Reece.

Cwm’s only points of the game came from a kick when Abercarn were penalised for infringing at a ruck.

This was a good all round team performance with good displays from Chris Rogers, Ryan Hodges and Dean Johnson.

The man of the match award was given to outside half Owen Glastonbury whose personal tally of 24 points included two tries and seven conversions.

Abercarn’s next game is on November 14 when they travel to Monmouth. The coaches will be wanting the players to attend all the training sessions.

Hafodyrynys produced a superb performance to win 21-31 at Division Four Machen in the Swalec Bowl.

This has to go down as one of their best results ever.

Hafod controlled most of the match scoring five tries to two.

The forwards were again in excellent form and supplied the backs with some excellent ball.

The threequarters ran their opponents ragged and scored some brilliant tries, urged on by some tremendous support from the travelling faithful.

Hafod took the game to Machen from the kick off and scored two tries from Dane Williams and Gavin Hipkiss, Adam Jones converted one.

Machen came back with three penalties and just on half time scored an interception try against the run of play to lead 14 -12.

In the second half Hafod carried on where they left off and scored another three tries from Richard Phelps, Gregg Hipkiss and Mark Hodges. Adam Jones added another conversation.

Every player must be given credit for the effort put in and the defence in the last few minutes was awesome.

Hafod now look forward to the draw for the next round.

Bettws beat Rogerstone 47-3, but didn’t play as well as the score suggests.

Rogerstone never really got into the game. Inconsistent Bettws won due to some outstanding individuals.

Gareth Evans was everywhere, a tackling machine. Marcello Anderson was sharp, especially when at first receiver, and yet again gave a spot on display with his goal kicking, except for the last attempt!

But the stand out star was easily Phil ‘The Angle’ Norville.

Four tries from a second row is special in any game, but to score from length, leaving backs in his wake, was out of this world. Phil was at the heart of what was good from Bettws, with a double try scoring effort in both halves.

Both Tony Watson and Dan Reilly got over for the other tries, with Rogerstone replying with one of their own late on in the second half.

Having lost their last three league games, this win leaves Bettws with more questions than answers.

The quality is there but not yet being used in the right way or the right positions.

The team needs to find the style of play that best suits it.