Fixture

Match report by Clive James

Risca visited Cwmbran for the first time since the mid nineties looking for their first double of the season after the 11pts.- 5 win in September.  Changes to last week saw Ryan Dallimore at full back,Taylor Barnes at left wing and James Sully on the flank.Corey Nicholls on permit from Crosskeys continued at centre.
The homeside kicked off with the added advantage of playing down the slope.Play for the first eight minutes was an arm wrestle with Cwmbran looking to take the initiative.On ten minutes the first score came after a clearance kick out from the Risca 22 was fielded by the home full back on his ten yard line,
he made ground before passing to his left wing who ran in from 40metres without a hand being laid on him,the no.10 added the extras.
More pressure came from Cwmbran but at a cost. The experienced scrum half Ryan Powell was red carded after punching Risca prop Adam Jones while 
Jones himself was shown yellow.
After Cwmbran missed a simple penalty to go further ahead the remainder of the half belonged to the visitors and after good approach work up to the homesides goalline phase after phase finally saw James Sully forcing his way over at the corner for an unconverted try.
Half time 5pts.-7.
Geraint Roberts replaced Elliot Bateman who had given everything but couldn't continue due to a back injury.Almost from kick off Risca took the lead when
after a trademark surge surge downfield by captain Rhys Meredith Cwmbran infringed at the breakdown and Biddy put over the penalty.
The lead was shortlived when no Risca player put a name on the kick off and Cwmbran took full advantage scoring under the posts with the no.10 again added the extras.
Minutes later the travelling supporters were treated to the best passage of play of the match.From their own 22 the ball was moved quickly through several pairs of hands and ended with Corey Nicholls going over in the corner for a superb try.Biddy made it even better by putting over the conversion from the touchline.
The third try came soon after when the impressive Nicholls and Biddy took play into the homeside 22 and after more approach work 2nd.row Rhys Norville touched down in the corner for Biddy again to add the extras.
The pressure was firmly on Cwmbranand when full back Dallimore ran from his goalline and left everyone in his wake it looked odds on the bonus point try was coming.To the utter dismay of all the Risca contingent with his wing waiting for the scoring pass he ran straight into the last defender and the chance was gone.
The remainder of the half turned to farce.Cwmbran were down to thirteen men after a previous yellow and when scrum time came confusion abounded.
Coaches,supporters the team manager as well as the referee were counting the black and white jerseys that were on the field.
When play resumed the break obviously suited Cwmbran who came back strongly and after a series of carries upfield the ball was taken at pace by the no.10 who touched down under the posts before adding the conversion.
Risca withheld the comeback and the referee blew for full time.
Full time 22pts.-21.
This was a well deserved win for Risca who throughout the afternoon had to endure off the ball incidents and provocation which should have seen more than one red card.They held their discipline and the whole squad deserve credit.Again the forwards were superb with Louis Tovey prominent with his carries,Rhys Norville securing ball at kick offs,Adam Jones worked hard and Biddy kicked well.But my Man of the Match was Corey Nicholls who was a thorn in the side of Cwmbran all afternoon.
Next Saturday Pontypool Utd.are the visitors.Kick off 2,30.