Around the clubs – Gwent rugby round-up (From South Wales Argus)

Around the clubs – Gwent rugby round-up

3:00pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in Sport

Talywain 10 Abertillery 26 – Both sides came into this contest on three-match winning streaks and it was Tillery who extended their run.

Playing explosive rugby, the Green and Whites blew their hosts away with a four-try blast before the interval to gain the bonus point.

After the break, Talywain dominated territorially as the injury-beset visitors struggled to regain their former fluency.

But despite narrowing the gap, the home side never seriously threatened the Tillery lead and the game petered out rather tamely.

Talywain’s early foray into Tillery territory flattered to deceive. Darren Miles arced around the home midfield defence to set up an excellent try for Aled Penn after five minutes after which Tillery totally dominated the opening half.

Miles himself added a second try and, despite losing Shaun Connor and Craig Edwards to injury, another superb passage of interplay involving backs and forwards by Tillery set up excellent field position for a penalty try.

Chris Stevens converted and repeated the act when Luke Pegler finished off a great move initiated by Lane with Kurtis Hale, Penn, and Stevens heavily involved.

More injuries after the break caused Tillery to reshuffle and the home side won more possession, allowing them to pin the Green and Whites back.

The visitors also yielded ball with loose hands and kicking and Talywain benefited when their number 8 burst before adding a second try when their scrum half broke excellently on the blind side.

Late on, Tillery managed to regain some of their early verve but the game failed to live up to the first half’s pyrotechnics.

Croesyceiliog Ladies continued their successful start to the season with their fifth consecutive victory seeing off Blackwood 43-0.

After a tough win last weekend against Seaview, by 17-12, Croesyceiliog brushed off their aches and pains to come out and see off a struggling Blackwood team, who have yet to win this campaign, with a convincing performance.

Croesy came out of the blocks quickly and dominated around the park during the first half, Danielle Gagne scoring her first try of three after just five minutes.

In the wet weather conditions Croesyceiliog’s forwards worked hard keeping the ball in hand and driving up the middle to set up a platform for the backs to attack from.

Tries from Hannah Roberts, Sarah Thorne and Kerry Jenkins, as well as four conversions from Jenkins, ensured that they were in complete control of the match at half time leading 36-0.

In the second half Blackwood defended solidly and kept Croesy to just the one try from Jenkins in the fiftieth minute.

As the rain poured down the game became scrappy with both sides making a number of handling errors and fighting it out around the breakdown.

It was Blackwood who failed to convert their possession this time as they stayed camped in the Croesyceiliog half for the last 20 minutes of the match.

But strong tackling and good defence from Croesy, ensured they kept their third clean sheet of the season and top spot of Division Two. Players of the match: back – Nicola Smith, forward – Hannah Roberts.

Do you fancy giving rugby a try? Croesyceiliog Ladies welcome all abilities and ages just head to one of their training sessions on Mondays or Thursdays, between 7pm and 8pm, at Woodland Sports & Social Club, Croesyceiliog.

Aberbargoed 29 Forgeside 0 – Forgeside struggled against Aberbargoed’s much heavier pack.

Rhys Jervis was missed in the back row through injury.

On a positive side, there was some encouraging performances, including Ieuan Pearce’s whose defence was outstanding. Hopefully Andrew Thomas will return for Forgeside to play against Trefil at home on Saturday.

With no first team fixture on the weekend, all eyes were on Bettws’ second XV, The Chancers, who travelled to Abertysswg looking for their opening away victory of the season.

It was Aber who took an early lead through a penalty before Bettws started to gain good possession, giving youngsters Steven and Robert Whitehead the chance to break through the home defence before Gareth Foster was held up short allowing Mush Stephenson to force his way over for The Chancers’ opening try, Bryan Radford converting.

Following another spell of pressure, Radford kicked a penalty before Abertysswg replied with three more penalties, making the half-time score 12-10 to the home side.

The second half started much like the first ended with Aber-tysswg kicking a penalty.

With Bettws’ forwards getting on top, number 8 Rhys Collett and outstanding flanker Jamie Witt were causing the home defence all types of problems.

Bettws finally got their second try when Shaun Clarke scored from close range after good work by his brother Scott Clarke.

The Chancers then scored their third try when a wayward kick was taken by Radford who beat several would be defenders to score a fine individual try.

With the game entering the final minutes, Bettws kicked a penalty to give them a 25-15 win. The next fixtures see the fists XV face Brynithel away while the seconds travel to play Rhymney Rhinos. All meet at the club at 12.15pm.

Newport Saracens, showing wholesale changes from the previous week, gave several newcomers a chance in their away friendly at New Panteg, the Sarries coming away with a 32-17.

Sarries lacked continuity in the first 40 minutes but a much improved second half display saw them score three unanswered tries.

The Newport side were probably disjointed early on due to the new faces. They did run in some good tries, newcomer John Bennet on the left wing grabbed a hat trick, Rhys Henley got a brace and Greg Forster got one.

Up front, second row Adam Young showed up well in his first game after a lengthy spell injured, Dale Tucker at outside half and blindside flanker Terry Morgan also caught the eye and both led the team well in the second period.

Tucker made several breaks and Morgan stood out with his all round play.

On Saturday the Sarries face a tough home encounter against table toppers Nantyglo.

It is hoped that all the regulars will be available for selection as a hard game is expected.

The young Sarries team and coaches were pleased to see several former players and club veterans supporting the team away recently.

It’s hoped there will be good strong support at home this weekend.

Hafodyrynys 36 Blaina United 7 – Hafod enjoyed a comfortable and welcome win in the first round of the Swalec Bowl competition on Saturday and will look forward to the draw for the next round.

A good crowd turned up to see a good game, despite there being passive scrums, with both sides playing some good open rugby in lovely conditions.

And it wasn’t long before the home side scored a try from full back Rob Smith.

The Hafod then continued to dominate the first half and ran in a further three tries by Declan Johnson (2) and Craig Leggat with Jeremy Parsons adding a conversion.

In the second half the home side continued to attack but couldn’t finish off some of their moves and Blaina came back and scored a fine try through their full back which was converted.

The Hafod then came back and scored a further two tries through Smith and Daniel Morgan.

They were both converted by Smith.

Man of the match was Cerig Wilson who had a fine game playing out of position at No 8. This week it’s back to league action at home to New Tredegar (KO 2.30pm).

Llanhilleth travelled to Brynithel for a Swalec Bowl encounter.

They were again expecting a hard game against their fellow villagers and the large crowd were not disappointed.

From the off both teams tore into one another, each looking for the first score.

Brynithel then opened the scoring with a well taken penalty following a forward infringement.

The forwards were ripping into one another and Llan gradually got on top with their front row of Mark White, Scott Pitt and Darren Crimmins giving their opposite numbers a tough time.

As a result, Brynithel conceded a penalty try when they were driven over their own line.

The conversion by outside half John Williams was successful as was a penalty a few minutes later.

Brynithel scored a very good try when their best player Gavin Hayes beat around six Llan players to score in the corner.

This setback seemed to spur Llan on and they got well on top up front with Brynithel having no answer to their dominance.

As a result they scored three well taken tries, two by No 8 Danny Brimble and one through prop Mark White, one converted by Williams.

Llan were now comfortably on top and looked the most likely to increase their lead which was 24-11. The game changed when Brynithel pulled a prop off and uncontested scrums ensued.

With time running out Brynithel, now with no worries at the scrum, ran the ball from all over and scored two converted tries to edge a 25-24 win. Llan look back and think of what might have been had passive scrums not been introduced. They should still however have hung on for a win but for some weak tackling.

PONTYPOOL & NEWPORT WRU SECONDS LEAGUE: Monmouth 0 Gwernyfed 0, Abergavenny 43 NHSOB 10, Caldicot 17 Cwmbran 10, Garndiffaith 14 Risca 19.