Fixture

Risca RFC | 1st Team 13 - 18 Abertillery / Blaenau Gwent RFC | 1st Team
Wayne Whitehead
Try 1
Owain Biddiscombe
Conversion 1
Penalty 2

Match Report
04 September 2016 / Team News

Risca 13 - Abertillery BG 18

Match report by Clive James

Newly promoted AbertilleryBG were the visitors to the Stores Field for the first game of the new season. Risca gave debuts to full back James Dowie,wing Wayne Whitehead and 2nd.row Alexander Hawkins while Liam Thomas and Allyn Evans made welcome returns to the club.Also it was the new backs coach Matthew Pennys first game in charge after his move from coaching Abertillery Youth. He has been a breath of fresh air with his engaging manner with players and supporters and we all wish him well.

Continual rain throughout the afternoon made a difference to how the game was played as apposed to what both sets of coaches had perhaps planned.But credit to both teams for giving the crowd an entertaining league fixture.

The early pressure came from the home team but on the 14th.minute AbertilleryBG went in front when the hooker sidestepped a number of defenders and from the resulting ruck the no.8 touched down with no.10 Liam Crandon adding the extras.The lead was extended on 22minutes when  Crandon slotted over a penalty. Risca then got back into the game and eventually right on halftime after a series of controlled phases the ball was moved quickly and wing Wayne Whitehead crossed for his debut try Biddy added the exta two points.

Halftime 7pts-10.

Within 7 minutes of the restart the visitors scrumhalf made a blindside run ,chipped the ball down the touchline and the 2nd.row following up touched down for an unconverted try.Back came Risca and Biddy put over a penalty goal. From the kick off the game swung back in favour of AbertilleryBG when instead of securing the ball it was knocked on and from the scrum the visitors exerted huge pressure and the home pack were penalized,the no.10 put over the penalty to make it 18pts.-10 with 20minutes to play.

The remainder of the half belonged to Risca who put the visitors under constant pressure with driving lineouts probing crosskicks and driving mauls but the only reward was another penalty from Biddy.

AbertilleryBG were glad to hear the final whistle to secure the win while Risca gained a losing bonus point.

The Athletic won 23pts.-17 against Hartridge while the Youth lost at Abergavenney 21 - 10.

Next week the 1st.XV.visit Ynysybwl.

 

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