Fixture

Pontypool United RFC | 1st Team 35 - 28 Risca RFC | 1st Team
Ben Murphy
2 Conversion
3 Penalty
Brandon Kent
3 Try

Match Report
07 October 2018 / Team News

Pontypool Utd 35 - Risca 28

Match report by Clive James

For the neutral watching Risca in the opening fixtures the entertainment value has been high with 323pts.being scored in the six games played.Unfortunately for the Risca supporters three of the League games and the Plate saw the opposition coming away with the wins. The latest at Pontypool Utd. saw the homeside come out on top in an eight try game.

Jordan Rogers returned at prop on permit from Ebbw Vale and Mike Preece came back at no.8 after being rested for two games. The opening ten minutes saw penalties being swapped with Ben Murphy slotting two and Mills one. Then Pontypool got the first try.Mills found touch inside the visitors 22 and from the lineout a driving maul could not be stopped and the ball was touched  down wide out for an unconverted try.On 20minutes the lead was extended when Mills fed his centre who burst through the mid-field to score under the posts,Mills added the extras.

Risca then got back into the match and put the homeside under pressure with Preece and Rhys Meredith prominent.On the half hour mark Ponty were caught offside and Murphy put over the penalty.More good play from the visitors was followed by ex-player Liam Thomas being yellow carded for stopping his opposite number Rhys Meredith from taking a quick penalty.Murphy put the ball into touch deep inside the 22.The lineout was lost but from the scrum that followed the ball was moved to centre Kent who crashed through to score under the posts,Murphy put over the conversion.

Half Time 16pts.-15.

From the restart the ball fell to the Ponty hooker who broke through the defense in mid-field before being stopped on the 22.The ball was moved quickly to the right wing who touched down in the corner for an unconverted try.

This see-saw of a game then swung back in favour of Risca who regained the lead when no.10 Murphy made a half break handed on to the supporting Tovey who then found Kent on his outside.He ran strongly for the corner,sold a dummy and crashed over for his second try which went unconverted.

Then another fabulous passage of play saw the ball being switched from one side of the field to the other and Ponty defending desperately.The final assault could not be halted and that man Kent crashed over in the left hand corner.Murphy put the conversion over from the touchline and Risca were two scores ahead with fifteen minutes remaining. Again the homeside got the upper hand.Full back Pesci was caught in posession and from the scrum the ball was moved to the big no.12 who went over for a converted try.

Liam Thomas the home nine then made a telling break down the right hand touchline and when he was halted Risca infringed at the breakdown and Mills put the homeside back in front.It was that man Mills who then put the final nail in Risca's coffin when he put a high kick towards the right touchline.It was a mismatch as the much taller wing plucked the ball out of the air spun away from his opposite number Dallimore before feeding the centre who went over for the fifth try.

Final score 28pts.-35.

Again those words game management crop up. Eight point lead with fifteen minutes to play and it's given away.

Brandon Kent was strong in the centre,Mike Preece was prominent at no.8 but it was Ben Murphy at no.10 who was my Man of the Match with his linebreaks and kicking,a superb all round performance.

The Athletic were thrashed 52pts-7 by St.Albans in the Bowl.

1st.XV.host Brecon next saturday.

Athletic are also home to Caerleon.

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