Crickhowell RFC - 37

Whiteheads RFC - 20

IN a gutsy performance, Crickhowell showed a lot of character in putting a visiting Whiteheads outfit to the sword.

Crickhowell seized the lead and held it from the moment when Shane Burton barged his way over the try line for Adam Howells to convert in the first five minutes.

Whiteheads did manage to follow this by drawing level with a converted try of their own, but the Parc Broyd clan were not to be denied and following a line-out on the Whitehead 22 metre line, the pack drove then released the ball for Howells to score a converted try of his own.

Crick consolidated their lead before the interval when the Whitehead's three quarters fumbled the ball, enabling Ben Withey to dribble the ball some 35 metres to cross for an unconverted try.

Whiteheads started the second-half with a flourish by scoring an unconverted try and a penalty goal but Crick's nerve held and Howells kicked a penalty goal given against the Whiteheads front row, who were now under great pressure at the scrum.

All in all, Crick's Ken Birch, Martin Lane, and Ed Jones were giving the opposition a torrid time.

The home team heaped even more pressure on the visitors, when following a loose Whitehead kick from deep, Joe Powell was able to field the ball on the Crickhowell ten metre line.

Powell took out two defenders with his pass to Henry Parsons in support, who from 40 metres out attacked the try line, breaking two would be tackles and rounded the cover defence for what must be a candidate for Crickhowell's try of the season.

Carrying a 30-15 deficit a lesser side would have folded but Whiteheads surged back with a cleverly worked unconverted try of their own as their fly half cross kicked for the left wing to gather and score.

Yet it was always going to be Crick's day and when Matt Griffiths released his three-quarters, Matt Snead ghosted into the line from fullback, delivered a short flat pass to Adam Howells who crossed for his second and added the conversion.

Crick will now look to build on this victory in their next home game this Saturday against Rogerstone. Kick-off is at 2pm.