Abertillery RFC - 12

Abergavenny RFC - 24

A whole missed month of matches and the wanton gluttony of the festive season did little to hamper Aber in their first game of 2011, as they bounced back with a spring in their step to make Abertilley's their first scalp of the year.

Kicking off, Aber started strongly, regaining possession from a line out and using backs and forwards drove the ball deep into Abertillery's 22.

Aber caught the home side knapping when a quick tap penalty, seven yards from the try line was passed to Sam Vaughan who crossed for a try in the corner (0-5).

This seemed to wake the home side who retained possession from the restart and held territory for the next ten minutes - mostly due to several penalties awarded for offside against the visitors.

Abergavenny's defence held firm and a missed kick allowed the visitors to recover possession and turn the tide again.

The forwards through drives from locks Steve Coles and Lewis Smith made the hard yards and Daniel Horler playing blindside was used at the middle of the lineout and provided some excellent ball off the top.

From a scrum on half way, number eight Paul Cornock released Scrum Half Sandy Aitken to feed Stuart Davies who accelerated to the corner but was just held up on the line.

From the resultant five yard scrum the tight forwards got to work. After several resets the referee lost patience and awarded a penalty try as Abertillery struggled to contend with the power of the visiting eight. Coversion by Stuart Davies (0-12).

Abergavenny's pack were now dominating the homeside and through plentiful possession began to execute their game plan.

From ten yards, Lock Coles picked and drove from a ruck and with a desperate tackler clinging to his leg stretched over the line for a try (0-17).

Abertillery seemed to have no answer to the visitors forward power and from the restart Aber drove 10 yards up the centre of the pitch. From a scrum on the centre spot Cornock gathered and fed Captain Stuart Davies who burst through the defence and with options either side it was Dan Horler in support on his inside who was the grateful recipient, and galloped over from 20 yards to score under the posts, converted by Stuart Davies (0-24).

With a bonus point victory seemingly assured, a rout appeared to be on the cards for the second half.

The half started brightly with the visitors having the lion's share of territory and possession.

Unfortunately Aber seemed a little too confident to make it count.

The turning point came when three injuries in quick succession to the Abertillery front row led to passive scrums.

Abergavenny's main weapon was neutered and this allowed Abertillery an in-road as the game became loose and following a well worked try through quick hands of the homeside and a long conversion their tails were up (7-24).

With plenty of time on the clock they scored again this time with their rangy lock running in from 45 yards into the corner (12-24).

A great comeback was thwarted however as the visitors tightened their game and some ill tempered play saw the homeside reduced to 14 players for a high and dangerous tackle.

Despite failing to deliver the promise of second half tries a bonus point victory was a good result away from home under the circumstances after such a lay off.

Next week Abergavenny finally have a home game and entertain Brynmawr in the second round of the SWALEC Plate competition. Kick Off 2.30pm.