Fixture

Match report by Clive James:

Risca were missing a number of first choice players for the visit of Nantyglo and by the end of the afternoon it was obvious that next season the club must try to add to the squad in key positions. The game had only just started when a Nantyglo player was prone on the ground with what turned out to be a serious neck injury.It was some twenty minutes before it got back underway. Special praise must go to Risca physio Amy Jenkins and Gareth Hodson in taking control of the situation and making sure the player was removed safely from the field of play. Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.

For a neutral spectator this game would have been enjoyable seeing six tries being scored and the lead changing hands throughout the afternoon. Not so the Risca coaches and supporters though. As on numerous occasions this season points were given away after establishing a lead. The same mistakes were made,losing the ball in contact,missing tackles and getting isolated allowing turnovers. Some players were lacking in attitude making the game plans difficult to implement. On the plus side Risca scored four tries, a bulldozing effort from Callum Anderson, a charge down from Biddy, Corey Nicholls crashing over by the posts after running a perfect line and the best one of the afternoon from Adam Tetley which started from a lineout on halfway and saw wing Taylor Dimmick coming in on a weaving run before Tetley finshed off, Biddy added the conversion.

The disappointment of not getting the win was made even worse when Nantyglo were down to fourteen men for the last fifteen minutes and the pressure exerted could not be turned into points. To pick a Man of the Match after this performance was difficult but centre Adam Tetley gets it.

The next home game is Usk on the 25th.March replacing Penallta who are in the semi-final of the plate.

Photograph courtesy of John Hayes.