Abergavenny RFC - 10

Penarth RFC - 28

IT all ended in tears for Aber on Saturday when the trials and tribulations of a season that promised so much, delivered so little, as the Bailey Park Brigade failed to break open the door into Division Two East.

Played at Pandy Park, with pitchside temperatures touching nearly 30 degrees, it was a big ask for both sets of players, but although they gave everything and emptied the engine seeking the prize, Aber were denied promotion by Penarth.

Aber' selection contained a familiar blend of youth and experience. The back row saw James Williams (8) Paul Cornock (6) and flyer and sevens exponent Tom Rees (7). Stuart Davies and Leighton Thomas formed the centre partnership and Alex Gethin and Lee Oakey were in the boilerhouse. Rhys Willard was absent on holiday.

The game began at a fast pace with Aber having the bulk of territory and possession. The first chance fell to wing Will Williams, as outside half Danny Haymond saw a mismatch with only the Penarth number on the wing.

Haymond chipped the ball forward for the wing to chase and he comfortably outstripped the Penarth player, but the bounce of the ball let Williams down else there would have been a sure try and a great start.

It was a sign of things to come with each side having distinctly different tactics. Aber using the wide pitch and seeking field position through accurate kicking for lineouts and feeding the ball wide for running backs. Penarth chose to kick infield and used their pack to pick and drive. Abergavenny's defence around the fringes was too tight and they received little change from the later.

Penarth provided a real challenge in the scrums, but Aber held firm and gained parity. The forward foundation gave the half backs chance to probe the Penarth lines and kick Aber into good field position.

From these positions Aber sought to unleash their strike runners. Centre Stuart Davies was prominent driving at the heart of the Penarth defence drawing two or three defenders and then offloading in the tackle to create an overlap.

Against the run of play it was Penarth, attacking from their own half up the centre of the field who broke the stalemate.

A speculative kick hacked 40 yards bobbled over the goal line chased by Penarth centre Rhys Lakin and four Aber backs.

Stuart Davies showed blistering pace to recover and carry the ball over for a five yard attacking scrum. In almost their first attacking position the Seasiders won the scrum and a series of drives allowed the ball to be spun wide for their winger Chris Poole to score unconverted, 0-5.

Within two minutes of the re-start Penarth centre Lakin attacked through the centre again and loose tackles allowed him through.

He fed a support runner inside but was hauled down five yards from the Aber line. Quick ball saw the ball fed out to the opposite winger James Crothers who strolled over unopposed in the corner, 0-10. The failed conversion signalled half-time.

Soon after the restart another error in midfield saw the irrepressible Penarth centre Lakin break through midfield and chip ahead to the post.

A race he won on this occasion for a great individual try, which he easily converted to break Abergavenny hearts and give his team a 17 point lead.

Penarth compounded the pressure with a ten-minute spell in the Aber 22 where they stuffed the ball up their jumpers grinding out yards and winding down the clock, leaving Aber a mountain to climb in what time was left. A further penalty from this pressure added further points and took Penarth to 0-20.

Centre Lakin was giving Aber a torrid time and cut the defence again releasing his winger but a fine covering tackle from Tom Rees saved further punishment and a certain try.

Aber began bringing on fresh legs in the shape of substitutes, Olly Field, Owen Staphnil and Ed Davies. Full back Ryan Williams supplied attacking impetuous and he fed Ian Davies in support who fed Ed Davies and with five yards to go carried a defender over for Aber's first score, unconverted, 5-20.

With only 15 minutes to go if Aber were to make a dramatic come back they had their work cut out. They certainly weren't short of effort and continued their attack as if their lives depended on it. The resultant pressure they put on Penarth frustrated the referee and he dispatched a yellow card to their openside flanker for slowing the ball down offside.

Aber could now intensify their attack with a man advantage. Stuart Davies broke trough the defence but was held up under the posts. In the next surge a lineout yielded the ball to Danny Haymond in midfield and he chose to run to within five yards. He was driven on by his forwards and line was crossed, up with the ball and a grin came Captain Gareth Williams, 10-20.

The restart saw a penalty conceded to Penarth for Aber backs being offside. The kick took the wind out of Aber's sails and stretched the lead to 10-23.

The game was suspended for 15 minutes through a nasty injury to Penarth winger James Crothers who was knocked unconscious after clashing with a knee in a tackle. The usual precautionary first aid treatment necessitated the delay. He recovered with full feelings to his limbs and was treated on site by a paramedic and ambulance staff.

With less than five minutes to go the impetuous had gone and Penarth had the final word with a try worked through their forwards in the corner to take the final score to 10-28.

Penarth were deserved winners and Aber return next season to Division Three East where the challenge for the title will begin again.