Ynysybwl - 8

ALTHOUGH Abergavenny's resounding result against Ynysybwl was definitely a much needed tonic after their dreary away defeat to Gilfach Goch, the other results in DIvision Two East didn't quite go there way on Saturday and subsequently the claret and ambers remain potential candidates for relegation.

"A bonus point win is always more than welcome at Bailey Park anytime," declared coach Gary Lawrence, but because other teams involved in the current basement battle such as Fleur de Lys and Abercynon, both had high-scoring bonus point victories over Llantrisant and Rhydyfelin respectively, it means our heads are not off the chopping block just yet."

However, Lawrence remained adamant that the club could not be too disappointed about results that are out of their own hands and told the Chronicle, "All we can do is concentrate on the quality of our own performances and hopefully remain the keepers of our own destiny in regard to wether we stay afloat or drop."

The Ynysybwl match started in blinding fashion for the claret and ambers who went ahead after only 15 seconds when Stuart Davies found the space in midfield to make an impressive break before offloading to Jessie Nowers who touched down between the posts for a converted try.

And from then on in, the pattern of Abergavenny's play was very much built around the blueprint of that initial try, as Lawrence pointed out, "All of the tries during that match came from pretty much open play and individual breaks. That's not to say it wasn't a team performance, because without the hard graft put in all over the park from the rest of the boys, the try scorers wouldn't have had their opportunity to shine."

Aber's second try came from Dan Hayman, to take the claret and ambers into the interval with a healthy lead, and one which they wasted no time in building upon in the second-half.

Following a quick-tap penalty by number 10 Steve Lang, Stuart Davies crossed for Aber's third, and Davies was again involved in Aber's fourth and final try when he made another darting break from 40 or 50 yards out and put James Smith over for the bonus point.

Lawrence said, "Although the result went the way we wanted, believe it our not, our game didn't exactly pan out the way we would have liked, because Ynysybwl absolutely dominated us when it came to territory.

"They had us on the back foot for large parts of the game and our defence work had to be really outstanding on the day to keep us in a match that we won by and large on the break.

"Steve Lang in particular gave a cracking performance. In fact, I would go as far to say it was probably the best game I have ever seen him play in a Abergavenny shirt. He took the ball going forward really well and did all the necessary things spot-on.

"Gareth Williams also had an outstanding 80 minutes and gave a proper captain's display that saw him make a host of crucial tackles."

With another vital victory under their belts the claret ambers now face the task of taking that winning form up top this weekend, and although Lawrence readily admits that this Sunday's fixture against fourth-placed and last season's promotion partners Brynmawr is a daunting prospect, the coach remains optimistic.

"All in all there are still things to work on ahead of the Brynmawr game, but it'll be nice to take a trip up there on the back of a win," said Lawrence.

"You've always got your work cut out when it comes to Brynmawr. They beat us both home and away last season when the two of us were still in Division Three East, and they beat Gilfach Goch last Saturday 21-5. So it's definitely going to be a challenge.

"The difference this time around is instead of fighting for promotion, we're actually fighting for survival. The remaining games are not about to get any easier, so I think this Sunday's game will be a good test of how badly we want to stick around in Division Two East."

Abergavenny will face Brynmawr this Sunday with a 2.30pm kick-off.