Pill Harriers RFC - 43

ABER'S roller coaster season sunk to a new low on Saturday as they suffered their heaviest league defeat in many a memory at the hands of Pill Harriers.

Yet another reshuffle in Aber's ranks saw a new arrival at tighthead in the shape of

Jack Herring and a reshuffled back row of Josh Hitchman at openside and Alex Gethin at blindside with Paul Cornock at number eight. Coles and Willard formed the lock partnership.

Sandy Aitken and Stuart Davies were halfbacks with a new centre partnership of Jack Flower (12) and Andy Watson (13).

Nathan Burns started on the wing with Will Williams and Ryan Williams completing the back three.

Pill took an early three point lead with a penalty but early indications looked good for Aber despite falling foul of the referee on too many occasions.

Aber took the lead from a scrum on the Pill 10 yard line. The ball was quickly moved to Flower who scythed through the defence into open space. Stuart Davies looped around him to receive the scoring pass as Flower drew the fullback and Davies raced across for a try under the posts converted by himself (3-7).

A series of penalties in kickable range from Aber's indiscretions at the breakdown yielded six points for the home side restoring their lead (9-7).

Pill concentrated on a narrow game and field position taking advantage of their heavier forwards. Frustrations boiled over and a disagreement amongst the two packs saw yellow cards for Rhys Willard and the Pill openside.

The ref throughout awarded some odd decisions from the supporter's perspective. Aber attacked with vigour interpassing up the field between back and forwards. The move was finished by Josh Hitchman who crossed for a try awarded by the ref at first and then disallowed as being held up and then awarded Aber a penalty five yards out to the dismay and confusion of the visiting fans. Pill re-gathered and cleared their lines. This was to prove a turning point in the game.

Minutes later the homeside were on the offensive and a their pack drove from a lineout near the Aber line finished off by their number eight for a score that was converted to bring the half time score to 16-7.

Nothing in the first 40 minutes was to suggest what was to occur in the second half as Aber started to come apart at the seems with an error strewn performance.

Even the reliable lineout failed to respond whilst the scrum was in turmoil from a heavier pack who now with good field position started to exert pressure and reap dividends from this phase of tight play. After several five yard scrums Aber were worn down and the Pill number eight scored again this time from the base of a scrum (21-7).

Pill's tails were now up and they continued to attack a now wounded Abergavenny, returning to the corner again and scoring through a driving maul (26-7).

Aber could do nothing right and the penalty count mounted against them four to one and Aber went a further man down after the ref issued a yellow card to the visitors.

The floodgates seemed to open and Pill now poured through the visitor's defence to score three further tries to round off an unhappy afternoon, 43-7.

Hopefully Aber will leave this dismal day at the office behind them when they visit Garndiffaith in the first round of the SWALEC Plate competition this Saturday.