Fixture

Match report by Clive James

Risca returned to league action with Brynmawr being the visitors to the Stores Field.Louis Tovey led the team out on his 100th.appearance.Taylor Dimmick came in on the wing with Ben Pesci moving to full back after Ben Murphy pulled up in the warm up with hamstring trouble.Corey Nicholls and Joe Carlin were making welcome returns to Risca colours on permit from Crosskeys.Brandon Kent moved from centre to left wing.

In the first ten minutes both sides were probing for openings but the defences held firm.Brynmawr eventually got a foothold in the Risca 22 when the homeside conceded a penalty.From the lineout the visitors kept the phases going up to the goalline but again the Risca defence held firm and a turnover saw 2nd.row Elliot Bateman come away with the ball,good support work then saw the play move into the Brynmawr 22.Good lineout ball was won and play switched infield keeping the pressure on the visitors.A penalty was conceded at the breakdown and Biddy had the opportunity to put Risca ahead but his kick drifted wide of the upright.

After twenty minutes to the relief of the Brynmawr forwards the first scrum came.This turned the advantage back to the visitors and when Risca were penalised at the next scrum the no.10 put the ball back into the Risca 22 for a lineout.A period of intense pressure on the goalline again didn't bring any reward and a kick to touch relieved the situation.

But for all the hard work put in by the home eight in keeping out the visitors a ten minute period up to half time saw firstly centre Matthew Preece go over under the posts after a kick from Biddy which should have gone into touch was fielded by the full back who handed on to Preece for the opening score.This was followed by a try from left wing Phillips who went over in the corner after a missed tackle.Both tries were converted by full back Butler.

Half time 0-14pts.

The second half was five minutes old when Brynmawr extended their lead with a penalty from Butler.Left wing Phillips added his second on twenty five minutes and they were now chasing a bonus point fifth try.But Risca dug in and took the game back to the visitors.Jordan Rogers replaced Adam Jones at tighthead and Ieuan Davies came on for loose head Geraint Rowlands.Both props had given everything up to being replaced and the fresh legs put Risca back on the front foot.Good phases of play eventually gave the homeside a deserved try when openside Joe Carlin went over under the posts for Biddy to land the conversion.

The remainder of the second half saw Brynmawr camped on the Risca goalline looking for that fifth try which never came as they were again frustrated by the stubborn home defense.

Final score 7pts.-22.

After a long lay off without a game this was a superb performance against a very good Brynmawr team who always know they will never get an easy time of it at the Stores Field or on their own patch.Corey Nicholls returning after 18months out with a knee injury was superb with his strong running and tackling,Taylor Dimmick made some telling runs while the pack and forward replacements worked hard throughout.Joe Carlin carried on where he left off before moving to Crosskeys with a Man of the Match performance.

Next week we travel to Cwmbran.k.o 2.30.

The Youth lost 10pts-26 to Pill Harriers.