Abergavenny RFC - 21

Pill Harriers - 29

ABER'S purple patch came to an end on Saturday, when Pill knocked them off their perch and ended their unbeaten run of five games.

Abergavenny made some changes from last weeks away victory at Caerphilly, with Gareth Williams returning as hooker, Owen Staphnill and Brian Wright filled the props' shoes, Steve Coles and Dan Horler stepped into second row, new transferee Sean Buck started at blindside, Josh Hitchman played at number eight and Tom Rees played openside.

The usual half pair of James Harris and Jack Flower were joined by Caleb Gray at inside and Captain Stuart Davies at outside centre. The back three had plenty of pace in wings Ian Davies and Joe Powell, with Will Williams at full back.

The game began at a furious pace with both teams moving the ball wide and using all the playing surface. Abergavenny put the first points on the board with a penalty from James Harris, 3-0.

There followed a period of intense pressure from Pill deep in Aber's half. The homeside defended well putting in some big hits from Hitchman and Stuart Davies. Eventually the power of Pill's pack broke Aber's defence from a lineout five yards from the home line. They took and drove over for a converted try, 3-7.

Aber got on the front foot with some deep runs from Will Williams and Stuart Davies and some masterly positional kicking from Harris. A further penalty from Harris reduced the deficit, 6-7.

Pill turned on the power again taking the majority of possession and territory. From a penalty five yards from the Aber line they failed to find touch and gave the ball back to the visitors and using quick hands they manufactured a try scoring behind Aber's posts to make it 6-14.

Aber began the second half with true purpose realising they had to score next or the visitors could slip away beyond sight.

Aber were awarded a penalty on the Pill five yard line. The Captain elected a scrum tying in the loose forwards. It was a wise move as channel one ball gave Harris a quick service to Flower who switched to Caleb Gray on the inside. Gray drove eight yards and stretched to ground the ball at the foot of the posts, converted by Harris, 13-14.

As often is the case concentration is lowest immediately after a score. From the kick off Pill took the ball and an incredible burst from half way by their winger beat four Aber tacklers for a fine try in the corner, 13-19.

As a double whammy, within two minutes Pill had scored again with a combination of pace and power. This time a prop scored near the home posts which was converted, 13-26.

Sensing a bonus point victory was on the cards Pill were now relentless in attack with Aber forced to defend.

It was Aber's proficient line out which saw them get backback into the game. Firstly, a line out deep in their own half won by Horler saw them break out of defence with Will Willimas kicking and chasing the ball into the visitors' 22. Then Horler stole the ball from the Pill put in at the lineout giving the backs great advantage with turnover ball. Quick hands across the back line from first phase ball caught the Pill defence cold and wing Joe Powell scored in the opposite corner, 18-26.

Aber had real belief now that they could steal this game and sought to run the ball at every opportunity. A penalty just outside the 22 taken by Harris brought them closer still as the game entered its final phases, 21-26.

Pill added a penalty to take the bonus point away from Aber but Aber held out to deny the visitors a fourth bonus point try.

Next week Aber host Newport HSOB KO 2.30pm