Fixture

Risca RFC | 1st Team 7 - 23 Brynmawr RFC | 1st Team
Ryan Dallimore
Try 1
Ben Pesci
Conversion 1

Match Report
08 September 2019 / Team News

Risca 7 - Brynmawr 23

Match report by Clive James, photo, courtesy of Ian Whitcombe

The new season got underway with Risca entertaining Brynmawr who had beaten them in the Ben Francis Cup Final at Pandy Park in April.

A new look Risca squad saw league debuts for Full back Joe Fullwood,Wing Elliot Haines,Centre Miles Anderson and back row Alex Sully.

Ben Pesci has taken over the no.10 roll after Ben Murphy left for rivals Newbridge and Owain Biddiscombe retired to join the coaching team.

The forwards were bolstered by the return of Joe Carlin from Crosskeys who has taken over the captaincy,fellow backrow Allyn Evans and 2nd row

Kiaran Lewis both coming back after long term injuries. 

Early pressure from the visitors saw Risca defending on their 22 but after securing a turn over no.8 Callum Coughlin made ground up to the 10yard line before offloading to the supporting backline.Quick hands saw the ball get to wing Ryan Dallimore on the halfway line and he stepped inside two defenders before racing away to score near the posts.Pesci added the extras.The reversal stunned Brynmawr and they were fortunate not to go further behind when a number of scoring opportunities were lost.

The visitors then reduced the lead when Risca were caught offside and no.15 Butler landed the penalty.

With five minutes of the first half remaining a relieving kick out of defence by the homeside instead of finding touch fell into the hands of the Brynmawr no.10 who threw an inside pass to centre Congreve and from his ten yard line he ran in for a converted try without a hand being laid on him.

An entertaining first half saw the visitors lead 7pts.-10.

The first 10minutes of the second half saw the game get away from Risca when Butler landed another penalty then left wing Napathong latched onto a wayward pass tight on the touchline and raced away to score another converted try.

The game then see-sawed back and forth with Risca again defending for periods but also counter attacking when the opportunity presented itself.

Another penalty from Butler put the game further away from the homeside but it was Brynmawr who were defending for the last five minutes with the Risca forwards pounding away at the goalline looking to get a deserved second try.It never came as the visitors scrambled the ball away and the final whistle sounded.

Full time 7pts-23.

This was a very good performance against a strong Brynmawr side who always know when they have been in a game when they play Risca.

The new faces in the backline performed well and will cause defences trouble with their pace.The backrow were a constant threat to the visitors and 2nd.

row Kiaran Lewis was at his best after his long layoff.

The Youth team got off to a flyer when they came away with a 17pts.-12 win at Blackwood.The first win of many this year.

Next week Risca travel to Newbridge.

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