Fixture

Risca Athletic played Caerleon Helmets on Saturday looking to put in a better performance than when they played last at Garndiffaith. With players still unavailable and late call ups to the first team squad the Athletic left with 20 players for there trip to the suburban village of Caerleon.

The Athletic won the toss and decided to play up the slope and into the wind under the captaincy of prop Ieuan Davies. Straight from the kick off the Athletic kept the ball in hand with good early carries from forwards Matthew Williams, Owen Pearson, Ieuan Davies and Gez Roberts this put Caerleon on the back foot. A good carry by Matthew Williams then good hands by the backline put Aled Brown away down the wing who was brought down 5mts short only to lose the ball as he tried to off load to let Caerleon off the hook. The Athletic set piece was working well with hooker Matthew Jarvis hitting his men Tom Blacker, Gez Roberts and Tim Barnes at the lineout with perfection. Good ball from the lineout by Tim Barnes and an excellent carry in midfield by Karl Thomas got the Athletic up to the Caerleon 22 only for a knock on to stop another promising move. The Athletic had started really well but again as the last couple of weeks poor passing and decision making was keeping the score level. Good lineout ball again supplied from Tom Blacker the Athletic hit Chad Bushell up the middle which resulted in a penalty, the Athletic opted for goal which was a strange decision as it was 30mtrs out and into the wind, the attempt dropped short from Matthew Johnson. The first 15 minutes was all the Athletic as they had Caerleon camped in there own half all Caerleon offered was good tackling to keep the Athletic out. Good early patterns were taking shape and centres Karl Thomas and Chad Bushell were getting over gain line everytime it was only a matter of time before the score would come. A solid scrum 15mtrs in from touch and just inside the Caerleon half Karl Thomas made a half break sucking in two defenders before off loading to Matthew Johnson on the loop who put Aled Brown away down the wing only to be tackled just short , a good quick wipe at the ruck and Liam Thomas picked up and dived over for the try, conversion missed (0-5)
Caerleon finally offered something in attack half way through the first half it came from a loose kick by the Athletic which Caerleon using some of there big forwards for there one out carries but good defence lead to an Athletic penalty to clear.The Athletic again built an attack off good ball from the lineout off Tim Barnes and a good jinking run by Chad Bushell got the Athletic on the front foot, then Owen Pearson carried and another good quick ruck thanks to an excellent wipe by Gez Roberts the ball went wide with good hands from the backs only for Aled Brown to be tackled in the corner. You could see the confidence starting to come back into the Athletic players which has been missing in the last couple of games.
The Athletic built more pressure as a good drive from the lineout got them up to the Caerleon 5mtr line only for Caerleon to pull the maul down which lead to an Athletic penalty and a Caerleon player sent to the bin. With confidence high a scrum was opted for a good solid scrum and Caerleon were under pressure as they started to wheel the scrum No8 Owen Pearson picked up and drove past two players only to lose the ball over the line as he tried to ground it.
Caerleon were unable to build any pressure as the Athletic dominated territory and possession keeping the ball in hand into the wind. Another good lineout by Tim Barnes and a a good carry by Chad Bushell got the Athletic up to just outside the 22 a good quick ruck where Liam Thomas hit Ieuan Davies on the charge who made an excellent 20mtr run to be tackled 5 mtrs short another good ruck Liam Thomas fed Matthew Jarvis who handed on to Matthew Williams to get the try. conversion kicked by Liam Thomas (0-12)
Straight from the restart which was collected by Gez Roberts, Liam Thomas fed Matthew Johnson who made a half break and off loaded to Owen Pearson who made 30mtr run before being pulled down only for Caerleon to kill the ball and concede a penalty which was kicked into the Caerleon 22, good ball from Tom Blacker for Karl Thomas to take up the middle good ball back blind and good hands by Matthew Johnson and Chad Bushell put Matthew Jarvis through only to be held short of the line. Right on half time Caerleon ventured into the Athletic 22 for the second time in the half, the Athletic conceded a penalty Caerleon opted for a scrum this time Caerleon got the nudge on but the Athletic held firm as the ball was sent out good defence in midfield knocked them down as Caerleon built a bit of pressure the ball split out of the ruck where Matthew Jarvis was first to react to secure the ball and for the Athletic to clear.
Half time Caerleon 0 Athletic 12

The Athletic now with the wind behind them and confidence high built pressure on Caerleon straight from the restart with Caerleon unable to kick there way out as they did on numerous occasions in the first half tried to carry there way out but good tackling left Caerleon no choice but to kick the ball only for Dan Miskell to take it and run it back at them who fed Karl Thomas then onto Aled Brown who was tackled 10 mtrs out where the Athletic had a penalty for killing the ball again, kick to the corner, good lineout supply from Tom Blacker and the drive was in motion for Matthew Jarvis to get the touchdown, Conversion missed (0-17). Straight from the restart the ball was split backwards and Caerleon hacked on but good cover by openside Matthew Williams won the ball which lead to an Athletic scrum 15mtrs from there own line. From the scrum an awful pass went over the head of Matthew Johnson who turned and with Caerleon putting him under pressure decided to open from there own line, Matthew Johnson onto Chad Bushell then onto Dan Miskell who put a kick away only for the Caerleon full back to run it back but a good tackle by Owen Pearson who dislodged the ball then popped it up to Matthew Johnson who had 50mtrs to run decided to pass it onto Aled Brown to finish it off Conversion by Liam Thomas (0-24). It was all one way traffic now with the Athletic starting to play some good rugby, good work by the front five of Ieuan Davies, Matthew Jarvis, Sion Rees, Gez Roberts and Tom Blacker at the scrum won it against the head for Matthew Johnson to kick it long down field good pressure by Tomas Joshum resulted in a poor kick which Karl Thomas picked up and fed Matthew Johnson to score, Conversion by Liam Thomas (0-31). With 20 left the Athletic had a penalty as Caerleon still tried to slow it down at the breakdowns, a quick tap by Liam Thomas fed Matthew Jarvis who carried into the 22 good ball out to Scott Jarvis who carried to within 10mtrs of the line, then Liam Thomas fed Chris Lanigan who took two defenders in before off loading to Matthew Johnson to fall over the line for his second try, Conversion kicked by Liam Thomas (0-38).
The Athletic found themselves down to 14 men for the last 10 minutes after a good turnover by Sion Rees, Matthew Johnson put in a long kick which was gathered by the Caerleon 10 as he ran back a late tackle by Ryan Crandon after he had passed the ball and Ref showed him a yellow. Even thou the Athletic were down a man that didn't stop them, good ball again from a 5 man lineout off Tom Blacker hit Matthew Williams on the charge good ball from the ruck and good hands by the backs put Aled Brown in the corner, Conversion kicked by Matthew Johnson (0-45)
Caerleon were now looking for the final whistle to put them out of there misery, but from a solid scrum on the 22 Owen Pearson fed replacement scrum half Craig Thomas who fed Chad Bushell only to be held up short but good work by Owen Pearson who ripped the ball off Chad to spin over for the try. Conversion missed for the last play of the game.

This was a much better performance by the Athletic they had control from the half backs and an excellent set piece and a defence which Caerleon could not break down, with confidence back in the ranks the Athletic played some good rugby which have been lacking in recent games

Final Score - Caerleon Helmets 0 Risca Athletic 50