Brynmawr - 10

 

GOING into last Sunday's fixture with the bitter memory of last season's home and away walkover defeats to Brynmawr still very much in the forefront of their mind, Abergavenny's staunch determination and tenacious resolve to not share a similar fate this time around paid off as the claret and ambers hammered out the necessary result.

"It was definitely physical, it was definitely bruising, it was definitely demanding, and it was definitely a game that was won and lost up front," revealed forwards coach Gareth Taylor after the match.

"When your facing a relegation battle any points are always welcome, especially those garnered from a Gwent derby involving a quality side who absolutely smashed us last season.

"However, even though I know it's an old coaching adage, I was more pleased with the performance than the actual result.

"The last two times we came up against Brynmawr they absolutely out-muscled and bullied us all over the park, and we couldn't allow that to happen on Sunday.

"We knew going into the game that Brynmawr were a much more experienced and older outfit than us, but all we wanted from our boys was to front up to them and not give an inch. We've got a lot of quality players who sometimes maybe don't have the self-belief they should have. On Sunday we told them to take that belief out on the pitch and show Brynmawr that they wouldn't be intimidated."

The claret and ambers tactics paid off, as for 80 minutes they were involved in and eventually came out on top in an endurance-stretching match of graft and grit that left its mark on all 30 players on the field.

Taylor told the Chronicle, "All credit to Brynmawr they came at us and got in our face for the duration. It was a toe to toe, pound for pound slog for everyone out there, and I should imagine there are still plenty of players walking around with there fair share of bruises from that particular contest.

"It was a fierce, full-on type of affair, and if I take my Abergavenny coaching hat off, I'd probably say in a fair world it warranted a draw, but on the day the rub of the green went our way, so that's that - and we're definitely not complaining considering our current position."

In an intense end-to-end 80 minutes that wasn't reflected through the final score-line, Aber's Stuart Davies crossed for Aber's one and only try, which was converted by Steve Lang, who also kicked Aber's other three points via a penalty.

Brynmawr did have a couple of late penalty opportunities to try and force their hand, but neither kick amounted to anything and with 30 minutes remaining the game stayed at 10-8 until the final whistle, with neither side seeming willing to concede any ground.

Taylor added, "We defended really well on the day and made a lot of last-ditch tackles to keep us in contention, and although it was a solid team performance, I think the man of the match award should go to the pack as a whole. They were immense."

Now with just five games remaining of the 2008/09 season, and Aber still struggling to stay afloat in the troubled waters of Division Two East, will Saturday's result prove the lifeline they need to salvage their own survival from what has been pretty much a shipwreck of a season to date.

"I remember speaking to Jason Strange just before Sunday's game, and we were both agreed that if we could get any sort of result at Brynmawr, then our players' self-belief and confidence would rocket," explained Taylor.

"We've now got that result, and I believe it's because of what we have been working on all season coming to the fore.

"We're a relatively youthful side, who are gaining more and more experience and confidence with each and every game, and that's always a potent mix.

"You can't make any bones about it, Division Two East is a tough league, but I'm sure if we can just drop an anchor and hang around for this season, then the youngsters who have come through for us so well, will be so much more of a daunting prospect to play against in 2009/10.

"Abergavenny as a club has so much potential and is really capable of going places. That's the nucleus of what we're trying to install and I'm convinced we're already seeing the early benefits of that long term vision in our recent performances."

Taylor finished by telling the Chronicle, "There are now five games left with five teams striving to avoid three relegation places. We're one of those five teams, so the ball is very much in our own hands.

"Our next game will be against Fleur de Lys at Bailey Park a week on Saturday. The battle starts there, and no disrespect to Fleur but they are also facing the drop, and if we can't beat them at home to ensure our own survival, then we don't really deserve to stay in Division Two East."

Add your voice to the cause by turing out to support Abergavenny's only rugby club when they fight for the right to play their rugby in Division Two East at Bailey Park on Saturday, March 28.