Abergavenny RFC - 5

Hereford RFC - 18

ABERGAVENNY RFC's final friendly fixture last Thursday night had two purposes; to show off and test the clubs new floodlights in a match environment and provide the final trial for players before the league season begins in earnest this Saturday when Abergavenny travel to Rhymney.

Conditions were unseasonably wet for August with drizzle sweeping across the pitch for the entire game. This affected handling and the enjoyment of the game for both players and spectators alike.

Hereford brought a large squad of players down and Aber also utilised as many of the Quins as possible throughout.

The backs had a familiar look aside from two changes; Andy Watson at full back in place of unavailable Ryan Williams and at outside half a new face, Nathan Preece.

Preece has some pedigree and was capped by Wales at under 16 and under 18 level, now 20 years of age and a product of the Dragons Academy, he already has had three premiership seasons under his belt with Pontypool and Ebbw Vale.

Preece will be a welcome addition to the side this season. He is an Ebbw Vale lad but works locally in Abergavenny. A timely fill-in for the loss of talented Danny Haymond.

It was the home side that took the lead in the first of three half hour thirds played. The forwards paved the way with a succession of driving rucks near the visitor's line.

Guest second row Steve Coles magaged to force his was over for the try, (5-0).

Hereford responded after ten minutes with a mazey run down the touchline by their winger to score in the corner, (5-5). This was followed by a penalty awarded minutes later directly in front of the posts, (5-8) concluding the first third.

The second third saw a complete change in the pack with what would be considered as the entire Quins pack from last season being unleashed. They did not disappoint and hunted cohesively as a unit and certainly held the upper hand in the forward exchanges with big lock Lewis Smith prominent with a number of driving runs showing his strength.

Alas, they were to succumb in the last minute of the third with a disputed try after what appeared clear crossing between the visiting centres in front of the posts allowed one to score unchallenged for an easily converted try that concluded the second third, (5-15).

The final third saw the floodlights switched on to create virtual daylight and saw the more experienced forwards back on for Aber. It began with a flourish with Number EIght Paul Cornock breaking from the back of a scrum in midfield and releasing centre Ed Davies at pace, who ran 40 yards to release flyer Will Willimas who was caught in the corner.

Aber continued the pressure but indiscipline yielded a penalty to allow the visitors to clear their lines.

A yellow card for a Hereford forward for back chat to the ref gave Aber some hope but this was soon cancelled out by a yellow for Aber's openside Tom Rees, whose tackling throughout had been faultless, for a dangerous tackle.

The tackle laws now mean that if a tackled players legs are above the horizontal then this is deemed dangerous. It need not be a spear tackle. This could cause some cards through the new season particularly if players receive a double hit from two tacklers. Player safety however is the priority.

The last score of a frustrating end to the game came from a penalty kick for the visitors to finish the match (5-18).