Abergavenny RFC - 40

Abertillery BG RFC - 5

ON Saturday Abergavenny managed to bounce back from the mauling they suffered in Rhymney, to produce the goods and turn the tables on a newly promoted Abertillery BG side who didn't have a very good first bite of the Division Three East cherry.

Prop Owen Williams returned to the pack but late injury worry removed Alex Gethin to the bench and promoted Lewis Smith to the second row for his first league match with the first XV. He partnered Nantyglo transfer Steve Coles, who is an experienced lock and a useful citizen in the tight. Line out ace Rhys Willard began as blindside flanker. Josh Hitchman, the youngest member of the side began at seven deputising for Tom Rees.

Talented outside half Nathan Preece was a welcome addition to the side as was utility back Andy Watson.

The game started much as the last had ended with the opposition in the ascendancy and Abertillery were to score from a lineout and drive within five minutes (0-5).

However from then on in Bailey Park became a fortress that Abertillery would not breach again.

Abergavenny's brand of rugby is high tempo and not without some risk but when it all clicks is a treat to watch.

It appears the players are given free reign to attack from anywhere by the coaches and the first few salvos saw the ball spilled.

However, it was not long before the accuracy improved and wing Will Williams got Aber on the board after splitting the visitor's defence and unloading in contact to Josh Hitchman who galloped over between the sticks from 20 yards. Andy Watson converted (7-5).

Immediately from the restart the ball was fed to wing Andy Watson who handed off his tackler and fed inside again to the hungry hunter Hitchman who headed for the posts and his second converted try in as many minutes (14-5).

Maverick full back Ryan Williams was the catalyst for the third try. After taking the ball on the wing he run out of space performed an audacious reverse blind switch pass to winger Watson which pleased the crowd if not the coaches. Watson fed inside to Stuart Davies on the burst for a clear run in (21-5).

The first quarter of the second half saw a resurgence from the visitors, but the home side defended well and held their line during what was becoming a siege of dour driving rugby from the visitor's forwards.

Eventually Aber slipped their chains and at the first opportunity to run the forwards drove down the centre of the field to within 35 yards of the visitor's line. The backs were released, orchestrated by Preece, whose vision and game awareness had spectators salivating of what could be achieved this season.

Stuart Davies scored next after bursting through the Abertillery defence to give Watson another easy conversion (28-5) and secure Aber's first bonus point of the campaign.

With the game in the bag, Aber were now confident to throw the ball around and the fifth try came from Preece who sidestepped two defenders to score beneath the posts (35-5).

The final score was the try of the game with Will Williams creating something out of nothing. With his blistering pace he attacked from his own 22 turning defenders inside and out up the centre of the field and with 40 yards to go released in the tackle to Stuart Davies to canter over the line for his hat-trick.

A confident Abergavenny will now entertain Tredegar Ironsides this Saturday. kick off is at 2.30pm.