IN the wake of the Division Three East championship going to Fleur De Lys, and Aber's only chance of promotion riding on a play-off to be arranged later this month, their last league game of the season against Pill was a contest where the homeside had nothing to lose and nothing to gain - except pride.
Pill also had a debt to repay as earlier this season Abergavenny had put 40 points over them in their own back garden.
As a result Pill chased the kick off like men possessed, catching Abergavenny flatfooted to make it 0-7.
The suddenness of such an early try served as a wake up call and soon after the kick off, fullback Ryan Williams made a neat up and under from the halfway line which he deftly caught on the run to force a penalty and take play into the Pill 22. From a lineout, centre stalwart Leighton Thomas bulldozed through the Pill defence to score, converted by Dan Haymond, 7 -7.
Abergavenny, now fully awake, took the game to Pill and Haymond converted a penalty awarded for offside, 10-7.
Pill responded immediately with a drop goal from 30 metres at an incredible angle.
With the score all square at 10-10, there was one Abergavenny scrum after another before Ryan Williams dived over in the corner to give Aber the lead.
The Pill scrum half did not fail to miss a kick all game and a massive effort from near the half way line reduced the deficit to 15-13.
Champagne tries are few and far between and when Stuart Davies sliced through the defence with a 30 metre run you just knew one was on its way, especially when the player in support was number eight Paul Cornock who took the ball at full pelt to score just before the break, 20-13.
After the interval a Ryan Williams kick to touch to the Pill five yard line ignited a period of sustained pressure from Aber and it was a Stuart Davies break that set winger Ian Davies on his way to make it 25-13.
Winger Will Williams, tapped the ball under the posts for yet another scintillating try, converted by Haymond, 32-13.
With 15 minutes to go Pill Harriers bounced back with a pushover try that was converted, 32-20.
Confidence restored, Pill began a 10-minute battle on the home team's five-yard line. Time and time again they drove towards the line, only to be repulsed by a well-orchestrated Abergavenny pack who at one set piece drove them off the ball.
At last the ball came out to Dan Haymond who instead of kicking, kept procession and ran 30m to the safety of the Pill half. Tired legs supported him and a last minute try seemed on the cards, but desperate Pill defending kept the final score to 32-20.
The Man of the Match honour went to Reece James who all season has rushed onto the field with drinks and kicking tees. Not only that his enthusiasm and devotion to the players is unquestionable. A popular choice, well done Reece.
The last words must go to the elated coaches Tony Edwards and Mark Fleet. "This was probably one of our best wins. At the beginning of the season we had a side. Now we have got a team."
The play-off awaits.