NHSOB - 26

Abergavenny RFC - 19

IN a match littered with handling errors and rusty performances, Aber did well to salvage a bonus point in their opening game of the season against Newport High School Old Boys.

On a grey Caerleon afternoon, both sides looked somewhat creaky and in need of a little hard and fast action after the summer break.

Aber fielded a strong looking side with Staphnil, G. Williams and N. Gethin in the front row, Coles and Horler in the engine room and Cornock at number eight. Rhys Willard played at blindside and Tom Rees at openside.

After a season's leave of absence, James 'Jivo' Harris returned at scrum half, Jack Flower filled the number ten shoes, Captain Stuart Davies and new recruit Christian Knapp formed the centre partnership and I. Davies, Will Williams and R. Williams slotted into the back three positions.

Aber played into the wind during the first half and found themselves under siege from Newport's heavy pack, who pounded away in a tough and tenacious manner at the visitor's defensive line.

Against the run of play, it was Aber who scored first after 20 minutes spent soaking up the pressure.

From a scrum on Aber's 10 yard line, Cornock drove 15 yards, supplied quick ball to Ryan Williams who created the overlap, and released Will Williams on the wing to score under the posts from 40 yards out. The try was converted by Flower and Aber had the lead.

The homeside rallied with a soft try from their nimble winger who ran 40 yards across the field before spotting a gap in the defence.

The Newport winger's dash split the Aber defence and he sprinted in unopposed to score beneath the posts and level the scores with a converted try.

Almost immediately NHSOB pounced again when a defensive mistake by Aber allowed the home team to carry a 14-7 advantage into the interval.

With the wind at their backs and a defeat on the cards, Aber took the second half to the home side. They were unlucky not to be awarded a try after a driving maul from a ten yard line out saw Horler cross, only to be held up by the Newport defence.

From the resulting five yard scrum Aber went through the phases before releasing Flower who side stepped inside and dived over from five yards. Flower converted to level the match at 14-14.

Following the restart, NHSOB chose to keep the ball in hand and not kick into the strong wind.

A scrum on Aber's 10 yard line saw them run blind and feed their winger who sprinted down the tramlines evading all tacklers to score in the corner. A long conversion saw them regain the lead, 21-14.

Another Newport score soon after broke Aber hearts as the game seemed to escape them, but

a number of substitutions gave the Bailey Park brigade added momentum towards the end.

A clever grubber kick from Stuart Davies over the goal line saw Ian Davies win the race with his opposite wing to score and salvage a well earned bonus point and end a scrappy but entertaining game.

This Saturday the boys are back in town with a Bailey Park fixture against Croesyceiliog. Kick-off is at 2.30pm .