Abergavenny RFC - 49

Newport HSOB RFC - 10

ABERGAVENNY recommenced their championship campaign in fine style with a barnstorming victory over Newport HSOB, that saw them leapfrog to the top spot of Division Three East in the process.

Although it was HSOB who took the initial lead seven minutes in through an unconverted try, the claret and ambers retaliated in earnest when the ball was spun to outside centre Tom Macpherson in the visitor's 22 who crossed over to make it all square at 5-5.

HSOB's monster pack of forwards thrived on the the conditions and secured a lot of ball which suggested that if the game remained tight they might have the upper hand.

Alarm bells rang when Lock Lee Oakey received a yellow card for handling in a ruck off his feet, and subsequently Aber had to field a reduced pack.

Aber took the lead briefly with a Danny Haymond penalty before HSOB struck back with an intelligent try after a ball was grubber kicked through and the winger using soccer skills kept the ball in and dribbled over the line to fall on it for a try.

Going into the interval at 8-10, the game remained there for the taking by either side.

However, if any game was to live up to the old football cliche' of 'a game of two halves' it was this one.

Aber's avalanche of points began with a 40 yard penalty from Haymond, whose vision and field kicking in the conditions spurred Aber forward.

With Oakey back on the field and the pack at full strength, a lineout on the HSOB 22 yard line saw the Aber pack drive the visitors back for number eight Stuart Sherrard to ground the ball, followed by a conversion from Haymond.

Soon after centre Stuart Davies took the ball in midfield and sprinted 40 yards to unleash Tom Macpherson who run in for his second try, again converted by Haymond.

With the comfort of a lead and despite the conditions, Aber started to throw the ball around and stretch HSOB.

Wing Ian Davies beat his opposite number to create a two on one and released full back Ryan Williams to score the fourth and bonus point try, converted from the touchline by Haymond.

With 20 minutes yet to play the gates were now open for Aber to pile on the points.

Try five soon followed with Stuart Davies kicking deep into the HSOB 22, forcing a lineout, from which a clean middle of the line take allowed the pack to drive over for another try from Stuart Sherrard.

Minutes later Sherrard fed Haymond who chipped ahead for Stuart Davies to chase and tap the ball over the line and fall to score, converted again from the touchline by Haymond.

The final try was again due to the conditions and pressure exerted by the home pack. HSOB from a defensive lineout on their five yard line failed to gather and in a nightmare situation for their scrum half the ball was tapped down over the line.

Aber's number eight Sherrard won the race for the ball and dived to ground it for his hat trick. Haymond (who scored 16 points from the boot) converted to make it 49-10 at the close of play.

A special mention must go to the unsung heros in the front five who in dreadful conditions outgunned their opposition pack to pave the way to the sweetest of victories.

Aber's high octane performance bodes well for this Saturday's SWALEC Plate second round game away to Garndiffaith (Kick Off 2pm).