Crickhowell RFC - 36

St Julians - 7

CRICKHOWELL'S recent run of good form that has propelled them up the Division Six South East table continued apace on Saturday with a victory over St Julians.

With several first choice players unavailable and some young backs on display they produced a fine performance to beat St Julians on their own patch.

On the warmest day of the year Crickhowell applied more heat to the proceedings straight from the kick off when they scored the opening try with the pack picking up the dropped kick off and driving straight over the line where flanker Chris Williams touched down.

Ben Withy duly converted and Crickhowell were 7-0 up inside the first minute.

This was the start they wanted and the pack really took control dominating the ruck and maul to ensure that St Julians would endure a torrid afternoon.

The front row of Rob Ireland, Ed Jones and veteran Kenny Birch, who has been the catalyst for Crickhowell's recent revival, rampaged around like youngsters and had a field day.

They were rewarded with a try by Rob Ireland who again crashed over near the posts for Ben Withy to add the conversion and make it 14-0 to Crickhowell.

Crick have arguably the best back row in the league at the moment with skipper and number eight James Webb, 'nuisance' Chris Williams and tough as teak Army Major Shane Burton.

They were all over the St Julians pack and they chipped in with a further three trys between them.

Webb and Williams dived over for one apiece and Burton got two as St Julians were simply blown away by an awesome forward display with second rows Nigel Mason and Dave Jackson doing great work in the loose.

With the bonus point secured Crick started to throw the ball about and the young backs started to stake their claims for regular selection, with Dave Morris playing in his favoured position of scrum half and centre John Jones and Bleddyn Carrington threatening the St Julians defence all second half.

It was ironic that old stalwart Alun Bugler showed he still has plenty of pace to take a pass from the other 'old timer' Matt Sneade to add the fifth try. Not to be undone Sneade added the sixth.

When Crick tired in the last few minutes, St Julians grabbed a consolation try from a tapped penalty making the final score 36-7.

This was a great team performance from an untried line up and coach Mark Hughes duly gave the man of the match to all of the Crickhowell pack who were quite simply magnificent.

Next week Crickhowell are away to league leaders Caerleon.

ENDS