Crickhowell RFC - 29

St Josephs RFC - 14

FOLLOWING a host of new signings and the appointment of new coaches during the close season, Saturday saw Crickhowell finally take to the field in an eagerly anticipated match.

Everyone was waiting to see how the new set up would perform in their first competitive game.

And Crick did not disappoint as Parc Broyd duly dispatched a strong St Josephs side.

The early stages were an exchange of penalties with Crickhowell trying to come to terms with the referees' new interpretation of the breakdown.

The St Josephs number 10 took them into a six point lead with two well taken penalties.

As soon as Crickhowell settled down and new outside half John Owen started to control the game with some great territorial kicking, it was St Josephs who started to give away penalties.

And with Crick's Adam Howells that can prove really costly, as he duly put three over to take a 9- 6 lead.

Now the pack were starting to take control with veteran props Ken Birch and Dave Jackson starting to punch the ball up setting targets for the back row to exploit. It was one such drive that led to inspirational skipper James Webb bulldozing his way over for a try. Howells once again made the kick look easy.

At half time the home side led 19-6, but perhaps sensing victory a little early they took their foot off the gas and St Josephs started to come back. Once again the penalty count brought them to within six points.

Crickhowell now began to stir themselves and both young wings Meurig Boggush and Henry Parsons started to cause St Josephs all sorts of problems with their pace and aggressive running. These two have proved to be a real find this season.

However it was that man Adam Howells again who created and scored a clever try jinking under the posts. Adding the conversion he took his personal tally to 24 points and the game was won 29-15.

This was a great start for new coaches Jim Aylett and Mark Withy who have made some shrewd selections of old faces in new positions that brought out some great performances. None more so than former outside half Ioan Lilley now looking like a scrum half of real ability.

Man of the Match was inevitably Adam Howells but the award could have gone to several candidates with Lilley, Parsons and Dave Jackson pushing him close.

Next Saturday Crickhowell are away to St Julians in Newport.